INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION AND PEACE ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 12 April 1907, Page 2

INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION AND PEACE ASSOCIATION.

The meeting held last evening at the Borough Chambers to hear Mr. Morton Aldis speak on the above subject, and to take steps to form a branch of the Association in New Plymouth, was attended by about thirty persons. Mr. I!. Ifughes presided. The explained tiiat the subject to be discussed was one of world-wide interest., gml Jie was sure all present would gain invaluable information bv listening lo Mr. Aldis. Mr. Aldis, who spoke, in a clear, forceful manner, said he was pleased to have the opportunity of speaking at a New Plymouth meeting. When he left Auckland it was with the. intention of visiting Core for the purpose of seeing a branch of the Association formed at that place. This had been done. lie laid visited other places, and there was every probability of branches being formed at Duncdin, Christchurch, Wellington, and other places. The speaker detailed the workings of the Aucklau.l branch, which branch, he stated, was steadily growing in membership, and the meetings were enthusiastic. Circulars liad also been sent to education boards advocating the incorporation in the public: schools' curriculum of lessons setting forth the advantages of international peace. Jingoism was natural in children, and the other side of their characters should be developed. 11l a country where most people professed to love peace mid deprecate war, It was strange that efforts to form peace societies met ivith li<\'-tiliir. i'roia tJii.s if would seem that tli(; opinion was current that the warlike spirit was inseparable from human r.i'ture. During the 18th century Great" l ! ritain was formally engaged in war for forty years, and informally for a considerable longer period. During the l!Kh century she was at war for sixteen years. It they could make a proportionate reduction in their time it would be a considerable advance towards peace. They could not abolish crime and disease, but 110 one, therefore, argued that we should relax our efforts in combating these enemies of humanity; yet a similar kind of argument was used in opposition to the formation of peace societies. They had their duties and responsibilities as citizens of the Empire, and should lie actuated by high ideals. If th'ir conceptions of national equity ami justice so dictated, they would have to combat opinions which they thought were pernicious. It was a common be-

lief tint there were two kind* of people —the good and the bad; British and foivigneift; that the chief object of the foreigners was to destroy British prestige, and of the British to prevent their doing ko. Such people considered that to pine confidence in foreigners was sheer idiocy.'lf they looked the facts in the fa'v, tliev could not draw such a distimtiiu between foreigners and the British. The British had not a monopoly o l ' all the good qualities in the world; foreigners had some sense of decency and of justice. The British themsehes had in comparatively recent times en erged from barbarism, and yet people spoke as though all other peoples were inferior lo them. Other people had to live somehow. We expected theiu to respect our rights and feelings, and we must respect theirs. There were sonic who did not hold such extreme views, but at the same time thought there must always be a struggle between nations; but the tendency of the day was 111 the direction < u " l ofw ' i utt , national simple. \cuiion»—convention!., pence eonycntmu>- Were constantly increasing the idea was ( 00 pravalonl that the .HfliT'l i n"" " alio " ™"'' l ou, . v , f! at ll "~ expen.se aiu( perhaps downfall of another, i-iueh a thin" as I.'.Solute safety was unattainable. Tliev had to lw prepared to run risk,,; a man who spent lus time i« seeking to avoid all risks would lievw accomiilish much. The character of a nation was more important than its preparedness for warHe iia-t never heard of a eountrv that had contributed to the maintenance of peflce by prepaying for war, but- the early settlers of Pennsvlvania had shown what it was possible to do by adopting- opposite methods. Mr. Aldi's named some of the qualities that he legauled at of tirst importance in human chara?ler, and argued thai the possession of lli'.'iu was not incompatible with n state ol permanent peace between the nations In conclusion, |l lt , speaker stated ili.it lie had mil. come to Xew I'lvmmillt altogether to talk. 11 , V as liis h'sire I hat the peo]ile of N T ew IMvmmul, Should interest themselves in 1 !>*. Assopjatli.u and form a branch. The Asm). •iiitimi was absolutely liecoiMiiy iu this .•olony. ■ ' *

ilii l c-fiuinynu jifikoil for a proposition re the loi'inintf of a local hrhaneh, and it w-.in resolved, on tho motion of Kev. Anns-rong, seconded by Mr. Drew, that *teps U) taken iu New Plvmouth to form a branch. Mv. Maunder also Hint strong, V recommended the forming of a branch. Ab'nu twenty persons signified their willingness to join the branch. Mr. Drew : was appointed president, and the ISev. AriniU'i>n<v secretary. pro tern. U v\a* ilecid-d to (ni<e steps U». mnvase the Membership, and ut> a latoi' datu eall a meeting On (he motion of Mr. Drew, a heayty vote of thiinks was accorded Mi\ Aklii-i fftv \he i'.ble minuier iu which lie had explained the object* t»r tiw society. A vote yf to the chair terminated ihe meeting.

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