THE EMPIRE'S NEED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2777, 23 May 1916, Page 7

THE EMPIRE'S NEED

LAND SETTLEMENT

SPEECH BY SIR RIDER HAGGARD 1

A. striking speech on the need of filling the Empire's empty spaces was made by Sir Rider Haggard at a limc-heon tendered to him by the New South Wales branch of the Royal Colonial Institute last week. Sir Rider Haggard said he had set out from England on this somewhat forlorn hope, because ho felt it to be ilids duty. As Lord Curzon had kindly said at a Royal Colonial Institute luncheon In London, he set out not wearing any official uniform, but going "as a great State representative engaged upon a great Empire duty."

"I consider this mighty Empire of ours," he proceeded, "the migihtiest the world has ever seen, compared vrith which that of Rome fades into insignificance. I look at it, with its vast expanses stretched over every portion of the earth, and I . ask myself what will be its futuTO? We hold it—how? With sixty millions of people, of whom 6ome forty-five millions dwell in those little islands in the North Sea. Can we continue to do that? Perhaps—if the sixty millions remain never fewer than sixty millions. But can you say they are going to remain sixty millions? I wish you could—l cannot. To me the signs are all tho other way. Take your 'Times' and read the quarterly birth rate. Quarter by quarter it is marked lowest on record.' What does that mean to a. nation ? I will tell you," said Sir Rider, dramatically, "it means death." He believed he was right in saying that in only ono or two parts of the Empire was there what. is called a natural increase of population. He had studied the matter, and found. that it was only on the land, which, after all, was the mother of the human race, that there was the desired increase. It was to the land, which \sas also the support of the race, that they must look for the real solution of the terrible problem that confronted not only the Empire but the whole of the western peoples. 'Unless there was somo change another 200 years might see tho western races "out." That was what it came to. That was why he was doing his very best to persuade the Empire to save its sons and daughters for itself, and with, them to people its vacant lands at whatever cost. Some of these countries boasted about their wealth, but what was the good of wealth without men and women to spend it?

"I am afraid that the future holds In her womb many more wars, and for us, perhaps, a war far more terrible even than this," said Sir Rider Haggard. "Do J'ou imagine for a moment that tlhese Germans, when they are defeated, and when they patch up some peace, will abandon their ambitions ? And even if they abandon their ambitions, will they abandon their hate? With the others they may make peace, but with Great Britain, who has spoiled the game, whoso intervention spoiled the utter euccess of the plan they bad been preparing for 50 years, they will form no peace in their hearts. Danger of Future Wars, "Is it likely that such a thing will happen twice as for Britain to find herselr in the position of having half a dozen allies against her enemy? Alay it not be possible that tho other nations will be allies and that the British Empire will have to fight them alone ? Gentlemen, you know it is possible. When the hour does strike, as assuredly it will, Great Britain and her Empire must be in a position to argue witli the enemy in her gates. Never can you hold this: great bin pirn unless you have population to hold it. Therefore, it behoves you at whatever cost to get the population while there is yet time. Tho jreople, too, must lose themselves lio more in soft pleasures and easy living. They must be keen-eyed and open-eared, waiting for the call tiiat assuredly will come." (Applause.) Sir Rider Haggard had emphasised how wide was the cause for which the Empire was now fighting. On Anzac Day in Brisbane lie had been at a meeting where they had spoken of tho noble sons of Australia who had died uporu-the ill-fated shores of Gallipoli. Yet all over the earth victims like these were being claimed. His own case was typical of a thou- ! sand English families. "I have hardly a | male relation of suitable age but what is engaged in this war," he told his hearers.

"I think there are ten—my nephews and my son-in-law. One nophew who was killed died calling-: 'Stick to it," Welsh,' after, he had with his own hand killed the ontiro crew of a maxim-gun, fighting like .one of his own Norse forefathers. I heard it from his servant whom, with his last breath, he recommended for the V.C. Another nephew was second-in-command on one of your Australian, submarines, and now he lies, in some Turkish gaol. The Empire's Spirit. "And yet in England—l trust it is not eo in Australia—some men hang back, because, perhaps, they have bought a field or married a wife—some forsooth because tlioy have'not been consulted about the war. It is needful that that 6pirit should die out; What are wo up against. No ordinary war. We are up against a veritable kingdom of Satan. Were theso Germans to prevail over us, better that we should be dead. If you doubt it, study their literature, read their aims in their present acts; study tho reconT of thoir atrocities. See what a hell lives in the breast of each cf them. "We 6hall conquer," he asserted. "I am certain wo shall conquer. We know that our King will live to set his foot on the neck of • tho Kaiser, and all the accursed system he represents. (Applause.) So much for the present; but what about the future?" Sir Eider Haggard said he fancied that from some Valhalla of our race, those who had fallen might still watch what passed below. And then, if the Empire would awake and make ready for tho bitter hour of its trial, they might say, 'My brothers, see the Empire's squadrons gathering'; hear her armies inarching; look on her flag breaking to the breeze upon a hundred shores; look upon the searchlights of her navies guarding every fathom of tho 6even seas. And they might add, 'It is well with England, iny brothers; and it is well with us who have not died in vain.'" (Applause.) "After this war," he added, "wo believe there will be a great migration. I say. to you, get your 6hare for God's sake, and Iteep them under the flag. Don't let the United States mop them up again as it has done before. Are we under such debt of gratitude to other countries that we .should wish to feed them with aur best blood?" (No.)

Sir Eider Haggard announced that in Brisbane, whence he had arrived that morning, the Queensland Government had promised a million acres of land for the purpose of settling ex-soldiers, provided that they could raise the money to build railways thereto and prepare it. : (Applause.) He had not the slightest doubt that they would raise the money, and therefore looked upon the promise as as good as a bank-note—or, he should say, a sovereign. (Hear, hear.) He' had .not come to Australia with any financial scheme, but to ask that all the dominions would treat the soldiers of other parts of the Empire as they would (teat their own.