Problems of Pacific.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1921, Page 1

Problems of Pacific.

Slli JOSEPH WARD’S VIEWS. SAN ERANGTSCO, October 30. Th,, Pacific is the theatre re future world activities, both in commerce and war. It is for the English-speaking nations of the world to look after the earth’s greatest sea. If they do it rightly there will V no need of great navies. No alliances of any kind should he made which will lie inimical to the interests of the whote nations bordering on the I’acifm. If the delegates to the Disarmament Conference do not carry out the instructions and desires of the people tlmy represent-, they will he unfaithful to their trust. H will take live m ten years to reover from the havoc caused by th. world war. but much can lv done right now to alloviai,. pic.-' in misatisfactor. conditions VIEWS OK NEW ZEA I.ANDERThese are some ~f the |ioinls which sir Joseph Ward, former lTemicr of New Zealand, sought to emphasise in an address before members of the San Eraueisco Chamber of Commerce and

Cuimnercuil Club. “If tilt* coming Conference in AViishington in not successful.” said lie. “the men who keep tli<. swords bright will lie using them on a not far distant day. If the war taxes of to-day are kept up manufactnrers and tradesmen will decide theiy. is no advantage in doing business. Tbe wage-earners, who seem to be paying the least attention to disarmament, will b,. the ones to suffer most if the Conference fails of its purpose. “New Zealand is heartily in favour of limitation of’ armaments-of disarmament to a certain extent. What is tbe good of a League of Nations if by our presnt naval polieies we are going to make the eondition of the high seas worse than before the Cl real War ? CONDITIONS OF TRADE-. “To-day trade between California and New Zealand is hampered bemuse there is no direet exchange: it must be secured through I ondnn at a loss of time and eon venienee. The countries must make up tlieir minds to help their traders by giving them a system of security until business conditions return to normal. “The Fnited States should have a bank in New Zealand and New Zealand a bank in America. Then a trader call get cash against bis bill of lading without buying a letter of credit ■hi London “As- to that dedicate matter, the Japanese question, the Orientals should realise that our desire In keep our lands white is not inspired by race hatred, hut bv the law of self-preser-vation. Kighty-five per cent of the people of New Zealand are native born. The children are taught from infancy to keen llio land for the white man. An \nglo Japanese alliance is all right, hut it should never he allowed to subordinate our policy of keeping our countries wliit*. PACIFIC A WORLD PRORLFM. “The Pacific is the gioat world problem. bill I lie realisation of this has not come until now. \ spoke on tlm subject in IDQD. but could arouse no I interest. The British Empire and the | United States should regard it as their I special care. There should he no alliances to weaken mir position. Amo- . ,-ica is a country where no enemy could maintain its Hags abov,, tlie Stars and Stripes. Rut in the Pneifie are islands where, if any enemy should gel « foothold. it could rule the ocean.” The speaker was introduced by Mr James T.anagan. president of the Conimereial Club. Those who sat at the S jH’;! U»' r's table were: Aeting-Rntish , Consul-General IT. H. Livingston, i Reginald Rack. G. ' • Hind. Rrm-e ; [,l„yd C 11. AI eOorniick (banker'). 11. f Stephenson. Smith. Robert Newton j l.vnch ( manager. Chainher ol tool- ■ mereei, RrUee I leatheote (hanker). j