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Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1931, Page 4

In tho course of an address at. a reception given by the League of Nations Union at the Lyceum Rooms, Wellington, Major E. S. Harston, an officer of the League, gave some interesting particulars in regard to the organisation, its functions and achievements. He hid frequently been asked what the League had done? That, of course, was too long a story for a short address. The League had done many other things besides working for peace. Millions of refugees from the last war had been provided with homes and occupations. A large number of problems arising out of the redrawing of the frontiers of Europe had been settled. The health administration of Greece had been reorganised by the League’s experts, who were now on their way to China for a similar purpose. Countries left bankrupt by the war—countries such as Greece, Austria, Hungary and Bulgaria'—had had their

finances re-established hv League action, when all other efforts had failed. Social evils such as the drug traffic and traffic in women were also being dealt with. After alluding to other achievements and objects of tlie League, .Major Harstoa. said the greatest way in which the League could help New Zealand was in endeavouring to find a. solution for the present economic depression, and to his mind the greatest hope for the future lay in the fact that the financiers and economists and responsible Al misters of the various countries were in practically continuous consultation, and lie firmly believed that it was o"Iv a question of time before they would he able to agree upon some method of action. In conclusion, Major Hurston referred to a speech made by General Smuts at Oxford. when lie said: “We are beholding an amazing thing. AYe are witnessing one of -lie great miracles of history. The Powers have hound themselves to what amounts in effect to a consultative Parliament of the world.” Mr J. AG Wilson., private secretary to Sir E'ric Drummond, said the chief rortion of the work of the League was divided into two phases—namely, the measures taken to. organise peace, and the reduction of armaments. Tu regard to the latter, an important, conference would be held next year.