THE PRINCE ON BROTHERHOOD

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1929, Page 2

THE PRINCE ON BROTHERHOOD

AD A r ANT AGES OF COMRADESHIP

LONDON, -October IQ

The Prince of AVales attended the annual meeting at of the Post-war Brotherhood, an organisation which is spreading rapidly in southern counties and which hopes to extend its serial services into the industrial districts of the Midlands and the North. lit his welcome Lieutenant-Colonel AVyndham R. Portal (president of tlie brotherhoood) referred to the Prince of AA 7 ales as tlie greatest example of their principles, for not only in this country but in all parts of the Empire and in foreign countries tlie Prince was the greatest example ol brotherhood in existence. —'(Cheers.) Their voluntary movements contained the greatest mixture of men of ajl classes that he knew of. It brought out the human side of life. They all worked for it, because they believed in it and loved it. They wanted to see the movement extended to the big industrial towns, and they were willing to devote their organisation ail'd what little money they had to attain that object,

The Right Ho.il. J. H. Thomas (Lard Privy Seal) was present. The Prince of Wales hoped his friend Jim Thomas, who had just brought from Sandringham very good news of his Majesty the King—(cheers)—would keep better hold of his notes than he did when they last spoke together in public, for then Jim Thomas’s notes mysteriously disappeared. It was not surprising that Brotherhood speakers were expected to talk souse, because, in his opinion, the movement was the embodiment of good sense. It was founded by Walker AVard with only 10 members, and during the past 10 years it had grown amazingly, until it now had 20.0C0 members and 32 branches. AVhen he (the Prince) heard of it'hat meeting he practically cadged front the chairman an invitation to attend it. He particularly liked the title of Post-war Brotherhood. During the Great AVar they, learned a lot of lessons, the most import-amt of which was that . there should be no question or chance of .anotherwar. —(Cheers.) Another big lesson, wa<j fi the necessity, and the amazing advantages,, qf comradeship, and goodwill in times ,of national, crisis.— (Cheers.) One thing that stood out during those long and terrible years of war was the amazing capacity of the people of Great Britain and of all the other countries of the British Empire for sinking differences and pulling together cheerfully and willingly. When founding the Brotherhood they had asked themselves the questions: AA 7 hv should this great spirit of comradeship end with the war ? AVlty should it fade into oblivion in time of peace? Could not that great spirit be applied to post-war problems? There" Was plentji of them. They found that the answer to their questions was emphatically "Yes,” and they were right. The best proof that they were right was the way their idea had oaught on. "THE OTHER FELLOAV.” Fellowship and goodwill were easy enough fillings (to (talk about, continued tho Prince, hut they . could not create arid develop an organisation such as theirs with merely vague and negative benevolence. Benevolence was a fine tiling, tout if kept in a too watertight compartment it was only a palliative. If ‘ fellowship and goodwill were to mean anything, they must think, and think hard, how 'to translate those, words ill jo' something positive and practical.—(Cheers.) The Brotherhood was undenominational, non-party, and democratic in character, and it seemed to be composed of men of every class, thought, and creed. All were progressives, all were agreed that the world should he a much better place than it was. They had faith in human nature and a practical spiritual outlook on life. They had discovered another thing—which was also one of the things discovered during the war—that the other fellow—brought up in different circ^htstances —was not at all a bad fellow—in fact, he might he a very good one—(Cheers.) AA 7 hat a combination ; 20,003 men who had discovered that! They came from all circumstances and had joined together for social service.

INFLUENCE OF BODY AND MIND The Brotherhood’s social services wore admirable, and after his own heart.—(Cheers.) He was - glad that they concentrated on providing the less fortunate children with holidays —and a very important thing, boots. They did their best to get jobs for fellows, and they encouraged sport. There wa.s no doubt that if one kept a healthy body there was a much better chance of the mind being kept healthy too.—(Cheers.) “I like,” concluded the Prince, “your motto of ‘Deeds, not words,’ very much indeed, and I am going to ask you if you will do a deed tonight—in fact, now—that will give me a great deal of pleasure. 1 am going to ask you if you will make me a member of your Brotherhood.” Cheers greeted Unis request, and amid more cheers the chairman invested the Prince with the Brotherhood badge. “Brethren,” the Prince said, “I hope that means that I am accopted. May the Brotherhood go on prospering and flourishing in order that it may continue to contribute to the life of the nation by giving an example to other people of what can he done by service and fellowship.’’ MR. THOMAS ON UNEMPLOYMENT Mr J. IT. Thomas, addressing the meeting as “Comrades,” said lie nev-

er had subscribed, and never would subscribe, to the doctrine that any one class in the community was better than another. He had known good and bad people in all classes, and it was not for them to assume that any class had a monopoly of virtue or vice, lie was opposed to class warfare and class hatred. He was equally opposed to strife in industrial life, and lie held that it was a good thing for a railway director (like their chairman) to be able to meet a humble platelayer at a Brotherhood gathering. It was equally true that working men meeting for the first time a wicked capitalist, as they were called, or a railway director, would find that they were not such bad sorts, after all. —(Cheers.) Referring to bis task of dealing with unemployment, Mr Thomas said that he could only succeed in it by the goodwill and co-operation of all classes. If thousands of young men and young women walked the streets unemployed week after week and year after year it not only lessened their appetite for work, but it lessened their character, and their morals as well. Mr Neville Chamberlain commended the social work done by the Brotherhood. The Ministry of Health was one of the most efficient departments of ,the Government, but its powers were limited, and organisation like the Brotherhood could assist its work immensely.