PUBLIC OPINION.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1927, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION.

why Tin: British empire STANDS. ''All impiros ol the world have fa 11 - < ii—the Assyrian, [he (Jreeiuii. the Roman, ihr Spanish, the Dutch, the ancient Gem* in, hill there are reasons why the Hriiish Empire will e.n fall. The Government at Veslmiustcr has adapted itself to local necessity and local conditions in every Dominion and Colony. It is slow to move, luit, on the whole, it is just and it undcrsl mds, as no other nation in the world does, the true prln. t ipies of overseas administration. 'l'he French and the Germans transplant the Governments of Paris and Berlin England does not tluisplant the constitution of this country, nor the methods and habits of life in these islands. It transplants the spirit ol

! democracy, it sends trade and the I flap;, it permits the local customs suitI aide to the place, and 'behind it all i is tlic spirit that possessed Allred the j Great. AVe look dull, we move slowly. but, sooner or later, ‘we get there just the same.’ ’’ Sir Gilbert Parker, in the ‘‘Kmpire Review." WIIT NOT ADVERTISE Till'. LEAGUE? ‘‘With tin' experience of I lie war to guide us. there is no reason to doubt that continuous advertising of the | League of XVlious in leading news- ! papers would have a marked effect, i provided the announcements were | drafted with skill. Why are large I sums of money being spent by the | 'Umpire .Marketing Board to persuade I us to ‘liny British goods,' if ordinary ■ trade methods do not apply, where I ‘there is not. and cannot lie. an im- | mediate return 'i Large appropri- ' nl ions are set aside each year to induce its to ‘eat more fruit.’ to ‘come ■ to Britain, to 'use more telephones. 1 to ‘keep tluiL schoolgirl complexion.' to ‘join the Mustard Club.' Admittedly these are anuouiu emeiits promising material advantage. hut the phychulogv ol the crowd is a fascinating scheme, and those who have studied it realise that great masses of people call be made to think along cor- ! tain lines by continuous suggestion." , —“The Spectator."' ORGANISED WAR OX ’KID. “When we realise the immense amount of business dislocation, of loss in time and money and decrease ol clliciciu v and vigour, to say nothing ol tho risk of life itself, which is involved in these aimtvil influenza visitations, it seems strange that no greater effort is made to understand the disease as a preliminary to stamping it out. I till ttonxa is m case lor something more than private enterprise. Nobody would lightly suggest at this time new expenditure lnit if the Government could by diverting a little money from useless things, defray the expenses of a genuine inquiry into the best means ot intubating tins plague, it might prove a better investment than libiiy on which tlic Ministry ol Health lias or.iharked. A visitation which decimates business stall’s, shuts up schools, embarrasses public department. kills many people, and leaves an enormous legacy of ill-health or diminished vigour is more serious than many diseases which are the subject ol constant olficial vigilance."—“ Kveiiing Standard. ’’ TIIK XKXT AVAIL—A lIORUOR. “Wo have been told that. Liu- next war will he ‘a war not of lines but ol zones’ : that ‘the decisive strategical weapon will he air bombardment.’ Such phrases carry a terrible meaning to those who think in military terms : hut they carry little meaning to the avt rage man. The real motive lor dis-

armament should not he Idr. but hope, it should be not a vision of possible disaster, but a vision of the New Jerusalem which the peoples of the West could build if they could but safe the wealth, the inventive genius, the organising skill, the governmental ability which they throw away in unproductive expenditure for war. Had the peoples known in JOl4 what the last war would be like* who believes that it would have been allowed to happen !- ft is vitally important tltit they should not drift in igeojmee again to au--1 other great international crisis which will bring them fate to face with a catastrophe which in all human probj ability will wipe out the society in which they live.’’—Professor P. .1, Noel Baker, the eminent authority on international affairs, in the “Daily News.’’ THU NF.W PRAYER BOOK. “The new book takes account of the changed conditions of 'modern lile brought about by the sprciul, to use i tse Primate’s words, of what in the largest term may be called the 'democratic spirit.’ It contains forms ot pfftyer and intercession for objects unthought of in the reign of Charles ll—for schools and universities, for indus- j trial peace, for the missionary work ol the Church, for hospitals, and. perhaps most significant of all. for the departed. Moreover, it makes an entirely new departure by permittng extempore prayer. The equality of the sexes finds expresion in the revised form ot marriage vow by which both the man and the woman may plight their troth in identical terms. Alatters of controversy however remain. Among them, it is to be feared, may be the principle of prayer for the dead, despite its wider acceptance during the war.—London "Daily 'Telegraph.''

WE TAKE IT NOT. “In the realm of mind, how much of what we have a natural aptitude to know and enjoy remains still unelaim-

ed! When we set the actual against what is possible even for us. it is a ‘sod in a lark’s eage to a green summer landscape.’But it is in spirit and character, the inner kingdom of self, that the challenge oftenest need to face it. God clearly means each of us to he a distinct personality, expressing something on one else does. We speak of ‘possessing our souls.’ But do we? We allow ourselves to he built in by all

torts of fashions, influences, claims, duties, and responsibilities imposed on us by haphazard, as it seems, and not of our choice; and so we get built out of our true heritage of ourselves.” ‘‘‘A.A.” in the Glasgow “Bulletin.”

A NOVELIST’S .MISSION. “I mean to bring home to people the ghastly condition (material, mental and moral) of our poorer classes, to show the hideous injustice of our whole system of society, to give light upon the plan of altering it. and. above all to preach an enthusiasm for just and high ideals in this age of unmitigated egotism and ‘shop.’ J shall never write a book which does not keep all these ends in view.’’—George Gissing. AN HOUR, OF HISTORY. “English Churchmen have come to one of those hours of history when a great decision must he taken—with results which must deeply affect the welfare of that Divine Society which bring to them the knowledge of the Faith and the standard of Christian discipleship. The questions they must put to themselves are; Does this new Prayer Book truly express the Faith they have received? Does it assist them to worship God in spirit and in truth Does it offer sound guidance in the attainment of the Christian life. H they must answer these questions, as we believe they must, with a clear and decisive affirmative, then though some might have been content with less, and others might have wished for more, let them combine in ungrudging welcome to Ll lO larger liberty it offers to ail.”—London “Times.’’