LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 May 1942, Page 2

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

MASTERTON UNION MEETING WORLD RECONSTRUCTION. ACTIVITIES OF PAST YEAR. The council of the Masterton branch of the League of Nations Union, presided over by Mrs T. R. Barrer, president, decided at its last meeting that, on account of the many calls upon the time of members for war work, no annual meeting would be called this year, that, if willing, the present officials should carry on until such time as it was deemed needful to call a public meeting. It was also considered that, as the function of the League of Nations Union was largely educational, meetings addressed by speakers were for the present superseded largely by radio talks and other methods of international education. In most of these the neces- > sity was stressed for a union of nations ((which was only another name for a League of Nations) such as had been advocated for so many years before the war by Mr Winston Churchill. Today it was amply demonstrated that only by such a League could the war be brought to a triumphant conclusion, and later a programme of world reconstruction carried out. It was decided that a circular drafted by the president be sent to members. The financial year closed on March 31. The branch had charge of the Patriotic Shop on March 30. The annual report of the secretary (Mrs Dodds), which was adopted, stated, inter alia, that a special meeting of the council was held in October to discuss a programme of world reconstruction which was to be considered by the League of Nations Union Conference in January, 1942. A summary of the conclusions agreed upon at this meeting was forwarded to the Dominion secretary and to the Auckland Branch. The branch was fortunate to be represented at the conference by Mr J. D. McMillan, who later reported on the reception given to the branch remit, “That seeing that any future League of Nations must have as a basis British and American co-operation, the League of Nations \ Union consider affiliation with the British-American Co-operation Movement.” Mr McMillan reported that a committee was set up to approach other bodies to discuss this suggestion. The most interesting feature of the conference, he said, was an address by Dr. Riddell, Canadian High Commissioner. It was the lack of support and understanding of member nations that prevented the principles of the League being successfully applied. Mrs Miller and Miss Tankersley reported on their work as representatives to the Masterton Red Cross, and Miss O. lorns as representative to the Patriotic Committee. Thanks were passed to these representatives, and they were asked to continue their work. Votes of thanks were also passed to the secretary-treasurer, the president (Mrs T. R. Barrer), hon, auditor, Mr J. D. McMillan (dejpr gate), Mr Brand and the Press, helpers at the Patriotic Shop,.and all who had contributed to the functioning of the branch. A statement of the Programme of World Reconstruction adopted at the League of Nations Union Conference had been printed for circulation, and could be obtained from the secretary. (Mrs Dodds).