Attends 'Au Revoir' on leaving for a holiday in the Eastern States.

'"Au Revoir" to Mr Curtin. Directors and Staff Assemble to do Him Honor.  

We have had our dark days, but they are behind us. The future is bright with promise, and I am satisfied that Labor is about to rise to greater heights than it ever before attained. 

This was the inspirational utterance of Mr J. Curtin, editor of the Worker, delivered at a function in the Worker office last week-end, when the staff said "Au revoir" to him. (Mr Curtin was due to leave on Saturday for a holiday in the Eastern States.)  

Mr Curtin said he came to the West in 1917 to take over the editorship of the Worker, and the six years which had passed had been a time of great trial. Labor had been fighting with its back to the wall. In that fight the Worker had played no mean part. Now that the worst was over, he thought the staff could look back on the struggle with satisfaction. For his own part he could say that his association with Labor in WA had been most pleasurable. He had not thought this way when they were all in the thick of it; but recent occurrences had made him a happy man. (Applause) Something told him that big things would happen soon. The Worker would expand. Before long it would possess a complete plant, capable of meeting all the requirements of the times. It already possessed an efficient staff, and the members of that staff worked year in and year out in perfect concord and harmony. Adequate publicity was one of Labor's greatest needs; when it had a press of its own it would be invincible. He hoped to acquire fresh knowledge and improved health and strength during his holiday, so as to fit him better for the glorious days that were at hand. (Applause)  

Eulogistic references were made to Mr Curtin's editorship by Mr J B Holman (Chairman of Directors, Mr D Watson (Manager), and Mr H Millington (Secretary of the ALP, and a Director of the Worker). Mr Holman said the editor had been a tower of strength to them and had rendered invaluable service. Mr Watson said they were all elated at "the turn of the tide": in his opinion the "turn" in Western Australia had been helped forward very considerably by three men – Messrs Collier, Curtin, and Millington. Mr Millington said they felt happy because they were saying "Au revoir"; if it were "Goodbye" the occasion would be one for sadness instead of gladness.  

The toast "Mr and Mrs Curtin" was then honored to the accompaniment of "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows." Vic Johnson, who was present, at this stage said "What about a verse?" and the singing of "Solidarity" brought the function to a close.'2

Delivers the fourth of the series of lectures being conducted in Perth by the Theosophical Society under its three months' 'Brotherhood Campaign' the subject being that of 'World Peace.'

'The lecturer treated the subject in a broad and comprehensive manner. The day of "war" was not yet over, but, he said, the terrible suffering which always came about as a result of conflict, whether international or civic – a suffering not only of the actual combatants themselves but also of the innocent and peaceful citizens, women and children – was slowly teaching the individual the futility of warfare…

Most of us were, at heart, peaceful, and in our sober moments realise the horrors and futility of war, but when the dogs of war were unleashed … the vast majority of people lost their balance, and the "Old Adam", lying dormant, would rise and drive us on to deeds of bloodthirstiness, of which we, in our sober moments, would be ashamed. The lust of war spread like a devastating fire, fanned by what was often wrongly called "patriotism," and the before time lover of peace would turn and deride fiercely those who had not been so completely carried away as to cry war in defiance of their better judgment...

We had yet to realise that one cannot annihilate any one family without suffering a grievous reaction. We had yet to fully realise the great interdependence of all the families of the world, great and small. That realisation was slowly coming. Today the feeling of brotherliness was gradually spreading outside the immediate family circle. One did not go round attacking one's fellow citizens, and depriving him of his possessions. But we had yet to cultivate that respect for the possessions of other nations. Monopolies over essential commodities would have to cease. The preservation of peace was essential to the preservation of our standard of civilisation.'13