"JUST AND RIGHT."

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1919, Page 9

"JUST AND RIGHT."

BISHOP ON PEACE TERMS., NEW ERA APPROACHING, Taumarunui, Saturday. War and after-war problems were re* ferred to by Dr. A. W. Averill, Anglican Bishop of Auckland, in speaking at a reception by citizens at Taumarunui last evening. He said that, as a,&ther with two sons at the front, hp would be permitted to say that, while hiost thankful for what our New Zealand boys have done, he never underrated the work of the British "Tommies." (Applause.) We should consider it a great privilege that our boys fought side by side with them. We imwt never forget that tin war might have been over in the flrat six months but for the splendid defence of what the Germans had styled "contemptible little army." (Applause.) But for the heroism of these men the Germans must have reached Paris and taken the Channel ports, which would have given the war a very different complexion.

Wo had won the war, but we had (C very difficult time ahead. Mr. Lloyd | George was right when he said he almost i dreaded peace more than war. We kn«w what he meant. Looking into; the future, ! we could not say it looked v4ry bright at present; still, all would agree that the peace terms, although severe, wemj perfectly just and right. He did think anything could bring home to tiro German people so much that thay had! lost as the peace terms had done. When 1 ' the armistice was signed the Germans welcomed what they thought was an ' unbeaten army, but when they smr :th<* peace terms they would surely see that their army was beaten. (Applause-) The only hope for the peace of the woria was that the peace terms should bet «h severe as they were. SupposS/Germany had won the war, what soli' of p<&ce terms would she liava impose<|upon W Very much harder than ours T|ey talked very loudly when on the wimLif side—like most bullies—but now tley were 011 the other side thev were slow to sign up. They wquld ont fill the last day, but they would be surJtO sign. 1 When that took ptaee there wohld RI U * new Bra for tho w6*ld. The great difficulty was Bolshevist, butlho did not think we had much to fear fiJbm Bolshevism. It was only the I 'outcome of a very great war, and' all 'great wars brought such things in ttrt-ir train. nen everything had become normal again people would sober up, and The trouble would disappear. The war had been a great social leveller, and they wanted the world spirit of the trenches brought into our daily life. That was the true Christian spirit of fellowship, comradeship, and hearing one another's burdens. When that, came about we the reconstructed world they had hoped and prayed far. Commenting upon what the Auckland diocese had done iit the war, the Bishop said he had sent twenty-two of his clergy to the front. Two of these men, the Revs. C. A. Mallet (Ohura) and E. C. Cook (New Plymouth) had given their lives, and three had received the Military Cross for their work in fhe field. The diocese had also raised £ 12,000 for the Church Institute at the front.