WORK MAINTAINED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 May 1938, Page 8

WORK MAINTAINED

LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION MASTERTON BRANCH ANNUAL REPORT. GROUND FOR NEW HOPE. “During the year the membership, in spite of discouragements, has been fairly well maintained,” states the annual report of the president (Mrs T. R. Barrer) of the Masterton branch of the League of Nation's Union. “The finances show a credit balance of £4 7s lid. “The report of the organising secretary, Miss M. Barrer, shows that a great deal of solid work in an organising and educational direction has been done,” the report states. “It is hoped that the fruit of this will be apparent in the coming year. “During the year I have given 5 travel talks with an international message. The organising secretary has given 11 talks on the Pan-Pacific Conference to which she was a delegate, representing both the League of Nations Union and the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union; and on the various Peace and International conferences she attended while abroad. She has also arranged pen friends for 15 overseas correspondents. i “Meetings on the whole have been well attended. Some have taken the form of play readings, others of addresses by prominent speakers, while there was one discussion evening. “Thanks are due to the speakers, producers of plays, the secretary, and the treasurer (Miss R. Elliott), the members of the council, the trustees of Knox Church for the use of the hall, Mrs Thompson for the use of Solway College Hall, the hon. auditor, the Press, the churches for their support, the givers of flowers for the Anzac Day wreath, and to all who have contributed to the. success of the branch. “To supporters of the League of Nations the last three years have been full of discouragement, but the greater the cause the greater the difficulties, and the more the struggles and sacrifices involved. Yet I do not believe there is reason to despair, but rather ground for new hope. The incessant criticisms of the League for its failure to enforce its authority at the risk of war have almost made it appear as if its main purpose were not to keep peace but to make war. “One of its chief functions, that is constantly lost sight of, is its co-oper-ative work in science, health, education and human progress of all kinds. In this great task it is slowly but surely building a more durable foundation for world peace than any measure championed by force could ever accomplish. “ ‘The League needs Britain, and Britain needs the League!’ It is in the power of Britain to be the leader of a liberal international policy in Europe, but she must first show her sincerity by being ready to lead the way in the making of sacrifices for that end. The League of Nations Union has a great part to play in support of the League and in the education of public opinion in this direction.

“The world is learning the lesson that the military conquest of weaker nations brings its own penalties and punishments. This is seen in the case of Abyssinia, which is proving a troublous and expensive asset to Italy. It will probably soon be seen also by the Japanese military leaders.

“From these circumstances will arise opportunities of economic and educational reconstruction, such as the world has never seen. When the cause of peace can be presented positively it must arouse the energies and enthusiasms of the more intelligent people. The League’s work for the world’s unhappy refugee has always been on a gigantic scale, and its opportunities are today constantly multiplying. Let the League of Nations Union see to it that the League’s finest efforts are not paralysed by lack of moral and financial support.” Details of the various activities of the branch during the year are presented by the organising secretary, Miss N. Barrer, in her annual report.