The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West? Coast Times. -MONDAY, NOVEMBER. 24th 1924. THE HOME EXHIBITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West? Coast Times. -MONDAY, NOVEMBER. 24th 1924. THE HOME EXHIBITION.

Wf.mhi.ky has proved a strong new link of Empire: it stands on the anvil of public opinion at welding heat; the Government is going to strike hard at the 1 ight moment to complete the forging. says a contemporary in referring to the decision to continue Wembley next year. To get some idea of the new conception of Empire which has influenced the Government to this determination, we can consider the remarks contributed to the prandial discussion by the Indian Commissioner. That representative gentleman declared himself a fanatical supporter of the

Imperial idea, taking that stand on the ground ot tho Dominion status - autonomy of oversea dominions in <O- - with Imperial policy - attained by India in common with the other .‘/ell-governing dominions. This is a most important .siniomont. When Gandhi came out of prison alter serving his senteme. he declared positively to a friendly ollicial interviewer that he and the party he loads wanted hut one thing. That was the complete independence of lii.s country. “Wo want you English, against whom we are not hitter, to go out. and leave us to govern oui.selves." (I.- 1111111 i diil not then accept thi> Imperial idea. The other day the loaders of the party opposed to Gandhi declared for the | rinei| Ic of Dominion autonomy within the Empire, thus recognising the Empire. To this decision Gandhi bowed, admitted his deleat all along the line. As a matter of fait. Dominion autonomy has not been achieved in India. But the new '(institution is working in that direction with increasing rapidity, as the news from India shows from day to day. The speech at Wembley dinner of the Indian representative ,is a clear indication that the attainment of Dominion autonomous self-governing inside the pale of the Empire may he the final solution of the great Indian problem. Dewan Bahadur said ‘ln* tell as mill'll a son of the Empire as the New /.(-aland and South African lepre. sentatives. lie had the leeling of full sotiship and equal rights with the other sons of the Empire." When lie added that “he confessed to feeling a shameless, unrestrained pride in tin* Empire," he had said everything possible to complete a unique declaration of faithful loyally. 'Tt is all the more remarkable because as all who know Tn.lia are aware, one great difliiulty in the way of union of the races in loyalty to the Empire is grounded in the indin n “teggaz." This is the term, as untranslatable exactly as the Maori ‘ niiiua," which covers the many things that make up the Indian pride of racejealousy of manners, custom, treatment, all things in which period ami cordial and unreserved equality is expected. The failure of the governing British, is regarded as due to the failure to 10speet the “teggaz." And yet we have here a representative Indian professing “shameless and unrestrained pride in the Empire." ft is probable that a knowledge of the sentiments of the .c----presoiitalive Dewan Bahadur ami rf their dilfn.sion has influenced tho Government to this new policy of Wembley. Regarding Wembley as a link of Empire. New Zealand must play its part in any eniitinunm-c of the great Exhibition. There has been much talk about the short-comings of the New Zealand display, hut it can he made hotter, and New Zealand should set out to redeem its good name in the fresh opportunity offering. The Dunedin Exhibition might suffer somewhat by reason of the British Exhibition being still in progress hut tin* Imperial success is of greater importance than a single Dominion success. The Riitish Government will assist the Dominion Exhibition lavishly almost—Dirthcr evidence of the improving regard lor the oversea countries by the Motherland. A second year of Wembley

will not draw so many people from overseas. The rush has spent itself, and in that respect the possible harm to the Dunedin Exhibition will he min. mised. Tile running of Wembley for another year should be helpful to Imperial trade, and will assist the undertaking to. recover itself finncially. It is a great undertaking, and is worthy of a second year’s publicity. As the matter stands it is due to the best interests of New Zealand to be represented at Wembley and to continue to play its part as a not inconsequential member of the Imperial family.