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In a memorable address a short time ago Field Marshal Smuts, Prime Minister of South Africa, said: — " People are searching their own souls for the causes that have brought us to this pass. May it be our privilege to see that this suffering, this travail and search of man's spirit, shall this time not be in vain. Without feeding on illusions, without pursuing the impossible, there is yet much in the common life of the people which can be remedied, much unnecessary inequality and privilege to be levelled away, much common-sense opportunity to be erected as the common birthright, and public atmosphere for all to enjoy as a right. Health, housing, education, decent social amenities, provision against avoidable insecurities —all these simple goods, and much more, can be provided for, and thus a. common higher level of life achieved by all." May I also direct your minds to what I feel are the deep-seated and abiding realities affecting this country of ours as a Sovereign State, and as a member of the world family of nations. We are a new country. There are people now living who can remember our early beginnings. We have, through our own strivings and development, and through our steadily maturing sense .of national responsibility, achieved our adulthood as a nation. As an adult nation we stood shoulder to shoulder with our friends in the conflict now ended. It is as an adult nation that we stand face to face with friends and former foes alike to ensure that the sacrifices of war bear good fruit in time of peace. I am more than ever convinced that the key to success in this great aim is the wholehearted adherence to the maxim that, to a just observance of our rights and privileges, we must unite a firm resolve to shoulder our every obligation and responsibility—individual to individual, individual to nation, nation to individual, and nation to nation. These are sentiments that must strike an echo in the hearts and souls of our people in New Zealand for here those ideals have been steadily growing and flourishing. Because of our natural bounties and our general appreciation of the necessity for community responsibility in the attainment of those ideals New Zealand is among the fortunate nations. Let us bend ourselves further to the task of implementing a programme that is designed to entrench our gains in the field of national and international practical idealism.

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