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Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1923, Page 2

premier said that in the past, the Empire had been too much pf a beast and too little ol a- trust. ‘‘'l hose treasures, these resources, these people they are a trust committed by Provident* to tho charge of the men and women of these islands, and their kith and kin lihyond the seas. It is almost a. new theory this theory of trust. The first time it was embodied in a great internntional eodo was four years ago, in the Treaty of Versailles —u very much abused document, especially bv those who have- never read it, and the less they have read it the more violent the abuse. But they will find, if they can spare time from the preparation of diatribes against it to read it. they will find there iimmigsi other good things tho theory of the trust of Empires, put in the form of what is called a mandate theory. It is a trust, not hold for prestige, not held for profit, not held even to account to the British Parliament, nor even the British people, but a trust for humanity, to lo reported upon eveiv year as to what Vou have dune with the souls committed to the charge of the British Empire, it is because this colonial society anticipated that theory, lenlised the trust of Empire, the mandate of Empire, that I believe in it as an essential part of the machinery of busy civilisation and want to see it prugre-s. There were formeily two theories ol British Empire. One was it was a good tiling to he flattered : the other theory was that it was an c\ il thing to be deprecated and just tolerated. They are both wrong. The new theory i- the one which 1 have described; the theory to he developed, to he utilised for the benefit of humanity. And that new sense of the beneficence of the Ibit*sh Empire has grown prodigiously in recent years, largely. 1 think, as the result of the war. \Yo now realise that the Empire saved the liberty of the world. That is no exaggeration. Anyone who reads what was done then, knows that had it not Ih*cii for the British Empire, liberty would have been overthrown.’’

Mr Li.oyii Geoiuu: went oh to refer to the seven or eight millions of men who went from the British Empire during the late war, and with an earnest ring in his voice said, amid cheers*. ‘‘How ] wish there were just one wud ot appreciation of that fact in France and in Belgium. We are not a [ ooplc who want gush, but just one word, they never know when die British Empiie may he uselnl again. I’niler the blessing of God, its ilav., are not over, and it "ill stand watch over Irecilnm < n earth, as long ns its might remains." The war opened up a vista of the p wi*r of the British Empiie, of its splendours, ol its pi ssilJlities, and of its resources. One (lay, he said the pimple "oil’ll dhcuv.T tlioso possibilities. Just now they could not believe it. There was nothing mankind was more suspicious <4 than the obvious, t'ieero bail said that Stales were made up ol hearths ami altars. These men, when they crossed the seas, would found hearths, but would they found altar*/ Epun the answer to that, depended the greatness, the beneficence, the real glory not merely of the British Empire, but of Immunity it-clf. "This Empire,” lie said in conclusion, “is going to have a great influence upon to future of the world, ami. if it is going to establish its real power, it must be by the means that have made it great in the past.

Tin; main highway to the Kokatahi district vestorday was well palroiiiseil by vehicular truffle, the ears and busses carrying a large number of visitors to the winter show. The visitors passed through a smiling countryside to a land which displayed a wonderful exhibit of plenty and prosperity, in the wintei show-room. The show was in every way creditable to nil concerned. The settlers of the district rose to the occasion, not only in supplying a larger and better equipped hall than that m use last year, hut also a display which for both quality and quantity would be hard to eclipse. There was a brave display of exhibits oi all kinds ol farm produce, mill it was indeed surprising that so many commodities could be pm dueeil from the average hoinesicad The Kukatahi-Koiterangi district is ir. roidit v a more extensive urea than people are prone to realise. There is a big expanse of country stretching up the Hokitika river valley to the Gorge, as there is also tip the valley of the Kokatahi river to its junction with the Toaroha and Styx branches. There must be busy housewives in i* any ul the homes along the highways, lo produce such an excellent and varied assortment ol home products ns wei.rcvenhil on the show table, Kokatahi district is certainly very sell-contain-ed, and it would not be a difficult matter for that region to support itself on its home resources without drawing oil outside supplies. The visitors yesterday were much struck by the variety and excellent quality of the goods, which were a splendid demonstration oi the possibilities ol the district from the productive point of view. Westland has a substantial backbone in its pastoral territory, and the Kokatahi-Koi-terangi settlement, occupies a leading place in governing the future prosperity of the district. The districts on both sides of the Ivokatahi river bad rival displays in separate bays of home prepared products, and it would be an education to the public at large if the exhibition of goods shown could fie shown here and at other Const centres, as evidence of the material resources of the fanning lands of Westland. The Kokatahi district has done well. It has given evidence of its prime qualities in first class produce of all kinds and enhancing its production vonr by year must continue on the high road to very substantial prosperity in the. immediate future.