AN EMPIRE MESSAGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1924, Page 4

AN EMPIRE MESSAGE.

CitAAIAI’IIONE I! EX HR i) BY Mil .MASSEY. WEI.I.I.NdTd.N. dune - ‘2d. 75v mail from i.cadnn to-day there readied Wellinglnn an in ie rest i lie gramaphnue ree ird. (in one side ot ihc record is a io.n minutes’ address l.v the Prime Minister of .New Zealand on “The Empire." It is a. stirring speech. ami an excellent ret old. It. will be remembered that list Empire Day their Majesties the Kill" and Ouecn graciously consented to have similar record.- made with a view lo their distribution throughout the Empire. Air .Massey i. the ottlv other Imperial representative woo has been invited bv the comKtis.v to make sttdi a record. The matrix of this record lias been deposited in tlie Rrili-b Museum under 'seal, which is not to bo 1 .*oken until ball a century has elapsed. Oil the reverse side is a record el the New Zealand anthem. ‘‘Hod Defend New Zealand." sung by Peter Dawson, the fa ill ml* baritone, and a lull i horns, with orchestral aeeomiiaiiimenl, tie music being by Mr .1. .1. Wood, a New Zealander This is a lirst-. hv.' record. Air Alassey's Empire message, which is a four-inimite record, i- as follows :

‘‘Fellow citizens. 1 propose to add ret s to you a few I hull'll I - on the British Empir*'. [ t s far-flung (erritofilocies entnorise one-lourfh ot the laud surface of the globe; its population

number* approximately lour bundled and lilTv million, of whom the very

large majority ditl'er from us. ol I lie Anglo-Saxon raies, in blood, langu.-tge. and colour. These people, like our selves, glory in tbeir British nationality. and we hold the Empire a* a sacred trust no less for them than for ourselves. Passages of history are rich with the records of the ‘deeds ihat won the Empire.' of brave and noble acts performed on sea and land, in war

and pence. “Tito fundamental pi ineiplo- of freedom. iiptiee, and independence have long been deeply implanted in our race,

ami to Briti-li citizens 1 want to stress, w ith .all the emphasis at my command, what it priceless heritage i- our- today. Ti is for us to preserve it untarnished. and to hand it on to succeeding generations, not only inviolate. but greater and more influential in everything that makes for the good of h untili litv.

‘'l lie Dominions and dependencies of the Empire are linked to the Alotherland by ties of blood, kinship, and tradition These ties were cemented by the poignant sacrifices made in the ("treat AVar.

‘•The Imperial Conference, at which I have the honour of representing that most British of countries, the Dominion of New Zealand, is now engaged in an earnest consideration of the problems ihat confront lie Empire. Among these are questions relating to national defence and pre-eminently naval defence. which i.s of supreme and vital importance to ait Empire which lias been built- tip on. and exists by. sea power There are many matters also j affecting our commercial and industrial prosperity which are receiving close attention .especially the speeding up of our postal, telegraphic, and shipping communications, and the promotion of our inter-Empire trade. But there is no royal road to prosperity. It must ho reached by industry and hard work on the part of each and every one.

“By this means will the Empire fulfil what I believe to he its great mission: to spread justice, knowledge and peace into tho darkest corners of the earth. With the blessing of Divine Providence, and with wise statesmanship on the part of its people, the British Empire will last for all time, the greatest the world has ever seen: the united nations of Britain, one King, one Flag, one Empire.”