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Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1932, Page 4

Comparing present conditions with those of ten years ago, Mr ' Lloyd George painted a gloomy picture. Economically, financially, they are worse. Over twenty millions of unemployed. Countries which then were like a rock, reeling. A moratorium standing between many countries, great and small. Trade restrictions, Customs barriers, quotas, exchange regulations strangling international trade 1 and gradually squeezing the breath of life out of its nostrils. As for international relations, he wonders whether they are better, whether there is real improvement, whether there is not a lowering menace on the horizon here and there. Taking the simple v test ;of armaments—they are bigger, more powerful, mere shattering than they were ten years ago. There are two nations, members of the League of Nations, numbering among their people one quarter of the population of the world, engaged in deadly conflict. A sword thrust into the side of one of them by the other and still there; a sword aimed at its heart, territory invaded. Governments overthrown, and everybody, powerless. Ten years of effort, ten years of handshaking, and ten years of complete agreement at every conference that has ever been held. We have never seen or heard of a conference yet that did not end in complete accord. (Laughter). Complete (agreement that you must have disarmament. Complete agreement that the disarmament. mu fit be by somebody else. Compete agreement that you must remove these barriers against trade. Equally complete agreement that it is somebody else who has • got to do it. That is the position of . the world today. Ten yeaiv; ago it was too soon for < -mmon sense to nrevail. T wonder whether now, ten years after, it is not too late. T wonder more whether there is enough courage in the statesmanship of the world even now to propose the only remedies that would put the work! ’ft is too early to’ cxncet brotherhood. It may not comp for generations, perilans for ages, but it is not to soon for neighbourhood •among nations. Tf we ar° not brothers lot us be neighbours, friendly, helpful.