CALL ON DEMOCRACIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 January 1939, Page 4

CALL ON DEMOCRACIES

RESOLUTE EFFORT DEMANDED IN SOLVING WORLD PROBLEMS. MR S. M. BRUCE'S SURVEY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.l WELLINGTON, This Day. Democracies seemed to be on the retreat, the Australian High Commissioner (Mr S. M. Bruce) observed at the State luncheon at which he was entertained today. He agreed with what Mr Fraser had said about the British Commonwealth and democracies working together in solving the problems confronting the world today. At the same time, he said, he believed that the things everybody would like to see would not come about unless they were more resolute. Democracies were on their trial and their people must not be content with merely talking about what democracies were doing. Australia and New Zealand in the past had been very virile democracies, and it behoved all to make their contribution toward firmly establishing the system. They should show what democracies should be. Ideas that position could be gained only by force had got to be destroyed. Democracies had tb make this clear to the world. They had to bring about political and economic appeasement so that all countries could go forward. Before he left London, Mr Bruce said, Mr W. J. Jordan, New Zealand High Commissioner, had asked him to convey his regards to New Zealand. Mr Jordan, Mr Bruce added, was representing New Zealand well. A CANADIAN’S WARNING.

Mr Mitchell Hepburn. Premier of Ontario, who was also a guest at the luncheon, said he had been impressed with the remarks about the absolute need for Empire solidarity. In his view democracies today were engaging in too much paternalism, and people were getting soft. In Ontario, the richest section of Canada, there were many people on relief. This was in indictment of the system of democracy. There was a changed spirit in Canada today concerning armaments, continued Mr Hepburn. He himself had opposed an increased appropriation for armaments in 1927 when it was difficult to conceive that there would be totalitarian states. He had since seen pictures of the conquest of Ethiopia and the war in China. People now knew there were nations out to conquer the ,world. Mr Hepburn added that he had reason to believe Canada was about to vote more money for armaments than since the war.

One of the most pleasing things was the lining up of the United States with the democracies.

Mr Hepburn said he was surprised to meet in the ship people from New Zealand who had little fear of invasion. It would probably be brought home to them later.