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Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1917, Page 2

At the Overseas Club on Monday night when a meeting was held to commemorate the King’s birthday Mr. L. F. do Berry gave an interesting address on Imperial Topics. The sub iect-s ho dealt with were Empire-wide in their application, and it is manifest that in the days to come, Great Britain and her Oversea Dominions will have many complex problems to thrash out and. many difficulties to contend with before the British Empire again settles down to normal conditions after the war. There un, many aspects to consider, and so much being said and written first now in the endeavour to analyse the position, and focus the. public thought in the way that" it should go to meet the changing times, that the outlook has a tendency to become rather appalling. But Britain may be trusting to tackle the situation in the sure and certain but, perhaps slow way she handles most of her problems. The difficulty generally is to wake up the nation or the authorities to the need of the ease. But once -the slothful attitude is discarded the nation can .ho trusted to wade in and do things well. Tho war has had already a .tremendous effect on the Empire. It has realised its-resources to help itself instead of drawing supplies and material from countries who were fattening on our slothful generosity. Britain is very wide awake and wise on this aspect just now, and in trade alone she will be a now Britain for the future. So. too, does she realise her obligations, material and tangible, to her Overseas Dominions, but this needs tho complimentary adjustment of vision in the dominions towards tho Motherland. That achieved and woj shall he moving along vory fast towards the new order of tilings.