THREE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 60, 27 March 1937, Page 4

THREE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES.

Three expeditioiihry fdi'ces ffbm New Zealaiid wiU tsmorrow be upon tRe water bbiind fof tlie otbef side df the world. In numbefs they "ai;e little toore thaii mere pattols but in quality they, iii theoi-y if iidt in f'act, eoiistittite spemal selections of New ZealUiiderS; itach is ceftainly ftilly cdnscious of the impoftaiice of l-epresentiiig this outerinost posfc of Empire in the respective fields foi" which they have bcGli cbosen. First, in ordeX of importance, is the Prixiife Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. SaVage, with an iinliressive but necessary fetiiiue of experts who Will act SLS dohsultaiits and chroniclers on this inomeiitouS pilgriniage. It is Uiomentous from two points df view. Fof the first time the leader of a Labour Farty Will represent his dduiitry at an ImperiaJ. Conferende. Then no greater dccasion than this has ocourred since -To Diamond Jubilee of 1897 when a mighty pageant of Empire coiiidided With a gathefing in free consultation of the admjnistratorg 6f every part df that Empire. The ooming Imperial Confererice, it is expected, will have profound influences upOn the destiny of the British Commonwealth of Nations. It will be the first doiifereiiee dt Which every problem of Imperial relationShip will Be discnssed in the light of the indepehdence conferred updli the Ddmiiiions by the Statute of WestiniriSter. If Mr Savage and his followers reveal an overbearing assurance that the voice of Labour is gding to o-Tnge the fldW of edoiioinic and political thought they can be forgiven their missionary zeal. If Mr Savage tfilks sense he will be listened to with respect. Mr Nash, who has had the advantage of some months of skirmishing over the ground, has showu a capacity for holding the attention of practioal men. Defenee, trade, arid immigration are the thfee SUbjedts that. brofidly will dover the eoiiference discussions. They are hard material problems that will- not respond to emotioml or theoretical treatment. Mr Savage can be assured that New Zealdnd will not disavoW the ideals of peace and humanitar > ism that irispife him. Heidnging to the sfime army but operating on a dif f erent frdnt will be the MiUisteF df Lahour, the Mon. H. Armstrong, who will attend the Internfitional Lahdhr Cdiifereiide at Geneva. Here again theory knd pradtice will dome ih for Sdtiie seardhiiig exdminfition. Mr Armstrong hefore he left shdwdd a JJroper hUmbleness toward the work to be done.- He does not helieve that New Zealand leads the way in social legislation. The Dominion will gain if Mr Armstrong preserves the role of student. Whiie Mr Savage, Mr Nash aiid Mr Armstrong are doiflg their Bfcst to fenhance the pdlitical and intellectual prestige df New Zealand the physieal attributes of NeW Zdalahders will he demo&strated by the platoon of men who will take part ih the Cdrdnation pbddeSsion, aiid by M# T. C. Ldwry'S teafidi df cricketers who are ahoard the Arawa with Mr Savage. Our national pride will find a healthy outlet in the interest With which We will f ollow repotts of the doronatidU Contingent and of the cricketers. Hawke's Bay s has personal linkg with both. In the contingent is Mr S, Gemmell, whose Rughy prowess and manly bearing reveal the best of the ndble race to which he belongs. Mr Ldwry, heariftg a name ldhg hondured iii Hawke's Bay, will lead his men with judgment and in the spirit of true cricket. If achievements With hat aiid ball Win no headlines onr New Zealand eleven at least Will fiiid much favoUr in the eyes of the Homelanders. They are young and come maiiily from the dduiitry areaS aiid are the best equipped td interpret the ideals of sportSmanship. Many valuable if UnSeeii advantages will accrue to New Zealand from the Visits that are being paid to the Motherland. - . v- — ~ • » ±a