Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, MAY 15, 1939. THE TRUBY KING MEMORIAL.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 May 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, MAY 15, 1939. THE TRUBY KING MEMORIAL.

TAKEN up in a. manner worthy of the great man whbse memory it is intended to perpetuate, and of the noble service he‘rendered to the people of his own country and to humanity at large, the movement now launched by the ilunKet Society to establish a national memorial to the late Sir -“’W King will be supported right royally throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand. It need not be doubted that the movement will get its full measure of support in the Wairarapa, where the work of the Plunket Society is being carried on. and extended well and faithfully.

No New Zealander has ever established a better claim to be held in grateful memory, by this and succeeding generations, than Sir Truby King. The magnitude of his achievement was perhaps in a measure obscured by his unpretending modesty and freedom from all ostentation. An aggressive crusader in the cause of the health of mothers and infants, to which all his later life was devoted so completely, he sought nothing for himself. Although he won international fame and honour, he remained the most unassuming of men. On the plain merits of what he accomplished, however, he stands out as illustrious. New Zealand and all the other countries to which his work has extended are in his debt, not merely for the saving of a multitude of infant lives, but for an improvement in the standards of health of. mothers and young _ children which strengthens the fibre of the race and will continue to do so as long as enlightened human beings exist to profit by his teaching.

Much of that teaching is now taken for granted, but Sir Truby King had to fight a long battle' against ignorance and prejudice before he secured the recognition and acceptance of .the laws of health on which the activities of the Plunket Society and those of related organisations abroad are based.

To his ability and inspirational enthusiasm, Sir Truby King had to add courage of the finest temper, remarkable organising powers and unwearying devotion in order that the great movement he founded might attain the commanding place it • occupies today. Many a New Zealander, not to speak of citizens of other lands, owes to Sir Truby King the'inestimable advantage of having been born and reared in health and strength. It may be said with truth that in this nation-building achievement Sir Truby King has established his own memorial, but all the more on that account a grateful and spontaneous , response may be anticipated to the national appeal now being made.

The decision of the Plunket Society as to the form the memorial shall take is marked by excellent taste, and judgment. It is entirely and happily in keeping with the spirit Sir Truby King brought to bear upon his humane and nation-building work that the largest single call will be made upon the memorial fund in endowing a post-graduate course for Plunket and Karitane nurses. It is proposed also to erect a simple monument, probably in bronze, over Sir Truby King’s grave and to establish a fund which will be drawn upon in maintaining his home, standing in a beautiful garden and with an open outlook on Wellington’s sea gate, which he left to the Wellington branch of the society in the hope that they might use it for some part of the work for mother and child. A portrait of the great benefactor is to be hung in Truby King House, and it will become a place in which, during the coming years, members of the Plunket Society, friends, overseas visitors and others may go and, as Mrs Cecil Wood said in recommending the project, “perhaps ponder for a minute on the marvellous results that come from one great man’s vision.”

Planned thus wisely and well by those who have played and are playing their own worthy part in a great work for humanity, the Truby King memorial will be of inspirational and practical value for many a year to come. The appeal launched today by the Plunket Society is one to which every good New Zealander should be very ready and happy to respond. WAR THREATS AND PEACE HOPES. J)ARK as the world outlook is with nations everywhere straining their resources to build up armaments, it does not lack hopeful gleams. Though it is much too soon to indulge in hopeful imaginings, the turning point from which humanity may proceed, inevitably in a long and difficult struggle, to evolve a better order, conceivably may have been reached in the plainly declared determination of the European democracies firmly to resist further aggression, even if that should mean war. Two statements made simultaneously on Thursday lasi, one of them by Mr Chamberlain in the House of Comirfons and the other by M. Daladier in the French Chamber of Deputies, are of decisive moment from that standpoint. Mr Chamberlain said, amongst other things, that if an attempt were made to change the situation in Danzig by force in such a way as to threaten Polish independence, .that would inevitably start a general conflagration in which Britain would be involved. The French Premier said in the course oi his statement: — If a just and equitable peace were desired, France was ready to make it. If a blow was aimed at peace its enemies would have to taste the weight of French arms. In conjunction with indications that Russia also is prepared to play her part in withstanding! aggression in Europe, these statements should mean that the Fascist dictatorships are bound to call a halt unless they are prepared in mere madness to cast the world into war. A halt once called, much more will be possible. The people of the British Empire certainly are in full sympathy with the note sounded by M. Daladier when he invited all peaceful countries to join the Anglo-French guarantee system. As Mr Chamberlain told the House ol Commons, if only the world could get respite from international tension and from anxiety regarding war, “they could look forward confidently to a great expansion of trade and prosperity from which not one, hut every people in the world would benefit.” There is no need to split Europe into opposed and warring camps unless dictators drunk with power are determined that events shall take that course and are permitted by the people over whom they rule to have their way.