A NEW WORLD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 24 November 1939, Page 2

A NEW WORLD

FROM PRESENT CHAOS

MR. JUSTICE SMITH’S VIEWS

Even for thej people of New Zealand a new world would emerge from the present chaos in Europe, said Mr. Justice Smith, addressing the New Plymouth Round Table Club. What form the new world would take was not known but there were powerful influences that must have their effect.

“There are the moving masses of China, the reactions of Japan, the growth of Australia as a great industrial country, and the resetting of the British Commonwealth of Nations, as well as social and economic changes in other countries,” said Justice Smith. “All are factors that will require to be considered.” Mr. Justice Smith also drew attention to the population question. If the present rates of increase in Russia and Japan were to continue their populations would assume enormous proportions in the next 100 years, while those of the democracies

were either standing still or in some cases going back. This also could only bring about fresh problems. “Free, intelligent and unbiased discussion is a great solvent,” he said. “It is also a fertile seed bed of new ideas which are the most powerful elements in the world. I feel that a great deal may be done by the formation of study and discussion groups that would approach the question from a scientific point of view and thus endeavour to find solutions and guide the people along the right lines. What is badly needed is a well informed opinion.”

He pointed out that though the Round Table Club, the Institute of Pacific Relations and the Royal Institute of International Affairs had been unable to avoid the war, they had done valuable work in creating an informed opinion. “The future lies in the hands of the younger people,” he concluded. “1 hope and believe that they will be able to contribute powerfully to the sound evolution of this wonderful little country of ours.”