COLONIAL SECRETARY

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1924, Page 4

COLONIAL SECRETARY

THE ANZAC LUNCHEON. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION LONDON, Jan. 29. There was an Anzae luncheon in connection with the celebration in. London mi Australia Day. The Prince of W ales, in a speech, emphasised the responsibilities of the citizens of New Zealand and Australia, who stood in the .southern ocean as tree citadels ol the British Empire, lift paid a tribute to .Mr .Massey, lie could not see too imieli of the Empire, and looked forward to visiting South Alrica. .Mr Thomas in a speech following one l,v the Prince ol Wales at the Australia Day luncheon, explained liiai he j laid accepted office in the Government | with pride, remembering that he had j commenced life as an errand boy at j the age of nine years, lie felt ginri-: rutin that be was a member <.I a nation ! whose constitution was broad, wide | and democratic ; and it must be prosor-1 ved and tho Empire providing it must j be maintained. Mr Thomas convulsed i bis audience with a story of bis intro- j dm t ion to office. He asked a porter:! •'ls this the Colonial Officer" The j porter said: "Yes. Whom do you j want to see ” He (Mr ’I humus') re-1 plied"l want to see the office!"! The porter: "Well, this is it! Vi bom do you want to seef - ’ Mr Thomas.; •1 want to see the office F’ The per-j tor .impatiently): "But whom'” Mr Thomas said that, thinking the time | bad I hen come to reveal bis identiiy, : -aid: "I am the new Colonial Sec- j rotary.*’ The porter looked him up mid down, and then turned to hi' companion and remarked : "Another shellshocked patient !" Mr Thomas confessed that, alter five days ill the Office. he was prouder of the Empire' than ever before. Itritain .bad [nissed through a revolution, wherein ink, not blood, was spilt. There imd been a great change without disturbance or upheaval. I rude, commerce, and finance were progressing as though nothing had happened. There were many who wore apprehensive about the change. The least apprehensive inn the IVilice ol Wales, ami liis illustrious, distinguished father, because they wore most wise. They knew their people. recognising that patriotism, love of Empire, service ami duty was not the gift or monopoly of one class or creed. The King and the I’l'ince recognised that men born in humble circumstances, without the advantages of a university education or of real learning, possessed a sense of duty ami patriotism mi

surpassed by any other type. The Empire was defended in the dark days of war by the men of the slums ns well as those of the palaces, both recognising their common obligations. All sections could lie trusted to do the right thing at any given moment. That was why, despite the great change in the Old Country, the old Empire would still progress. Mr Thomas paid a tribute to Lord Devonshire, his predecessor at the Colonial Office, who “did liis damnedest” to unseat him, but had nevertheless placed at liis disposal his great services and experience.

GOVKKXM ENT’S EMPIIIE POLICY. LONDON. Jan. 29. Mr Thomas received the Empire journalists at the Colonial Office, when he outlined, at length, the Government's Empire policy. He referred at ilm outset to the nonsense InP-cA about Labour Ling anti-Empire, and the new Government being only restrained from upsetting the existing arrangements because they, had not n majority to give them the necessary power. He admitted their tone had now changed. No Government had received a more encouraging send-off. Imt there were still elements of apprehension and suspicion throughout i Do Empire. He wished to dispel such feelings. Labour did have some idea of a new Jerusalem, but only desired to advance by reasonable and prudent steps. 1 f»> emphasised that all Minister- were assisted bv a great civil service. which Air Thomas found, as lie expected, was composed of able and tievoted men who placed the interest of the State above all other interests, lie yielded to none in the desire to promote the welfare of [be Empire am! draw closer its ties. The Labour Party, be said, regard it ns a sacred trusr. which we must develop impartially and frocy. Nobody is able (u say Imw long we shall remain ill office and he was genuinely anxious that when they relinquished office no one in the great Empire would be able to -ny that it was less great as a result of our work. lit reply to a question. Mr Thomas said that it was madness to assume that he would accept all that his predecessor did. II had been decided that the Empire can be developed and unemployment, in Britain be helped by the expenditure of money on Empire (level.qinieiil. He said the resolutions of the Imperial Conference would be considered by Cabinet. \Ye adhere to .Mr .MacDonald's statement oil I lie subject. One of liis iir-t difficulties was Kcnva Coinin', to which

lie had given more consideration than to any other. He said emphatically that the first duty was to the African natives. Neither European nor Indian interests will divert us from our obligation thereto. The policy enunciated in the While Paper, recently issued. would most likelv be followed.