The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY. APRIL 23, 1923. ENGLAND’S DAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY. APRIL 23, 1923. ENGLAND’S DAY.

To-d.vy is essentially England’s day. It is set. apart in the calendar as St. George's day (in honor of the patron saint of England), and also as Shakespeare’s Day (being the birthday anniversary of the greatest literary gonius of all England. Also it is the anniversary of the Zeebrtigge raid in the Great- War, that remarkable naval expedition which set. out. from Hover on what proved to bo the most spectacular and one of the boldest events in tile history of the war. And we know that the brave participants in Unit deed of daring were inspired in no small degree by the fact that St. George’s Day was selected for the j icreing of a. vital point in the enemy's armour. There was published on Saturday Kipling’s eulogy of England. The ease was worth restating, because England as the ehief nerve centre of the Empire, is often swallowed up in the larger term of Britain, and there is a loss of identity which is frequently unfair to the Motherland, as England is so endearingly regarded from the oversea point of view. England bad to bear the greater share of the burden of the war. She has to bear the greatest share in the consequence ol peace as things are falling out-. Her vast population render her directly liable to the variations in trade. It lias been said that “England’s industries crumble to decay and two millions of unemployed throng the streets, because European statesmanship has proved itself incompetent to grapple with the elements of difficulty which have presented themselves.” But England pursues her remarkable way—a great little nation. Her wonderful recuperative jpowers in regard to finance must he the envy of the world. Her

patience and industry in the darkest hours of danger have shewn the courage and lcsouroo of her people. Her genuineness of action, the frankness of her political thought, the abiding consistency of her friendship, are assets which have endeared her to the world. There may be jealousy cf her marked success of the greatness of her action in peril, or of her magnanimity in national regard, but she lias shown always that her plight*d woid will be kept, that she can be relied upon, and that there is no thought of international double-dealing. England is respected by her friends and foes. She has won a prestige which is her greatest asset after all. Erst week there were the .spontaneous expressions ol confidence in England by Gcneial Smuts and Mr Cosgrove—sonic time enemies under arms of England. T liov acknowledged freely that England kept her word, and they regarded it a sound policy to tome within the fold ol England with its ample protective cover. St. George’s Day is worth honoring and in doing s.» wo honor the- parent country who has done so much abroad, and still is the main spring ol Empire action. England is the financial centre of the world. It founded the mother of parliaments. It established constitutional government which is a preeminent form of snletv f' i the country. There is no small degree ol kudos in being associated with the Old Country with its great traditional history, and the great heritage it passes on to the Empire in the power and prestige it lias won by centuries of steady upward plodding for the good cl the masses. There are many pioblems of Empire. England has her own immediate internal problems. But there is never lacking the courage nor the ability to face the position and by sane and sensible direction of pul,lie thought lend the way towards surmounting the many obstacles which present themselves. Let us all to England ho ever true, and t > i ursehes we never can he false.