The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1927. EMPIRE UNITY.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1927. EMPIRE UNITY.

The thought for the times to-day suggests Empire unity to assure that degree of organisation which will assist to realise the future of the British Empire. As an Empire family, we should appreciate the power of organisation to secure stability. In these days of wider commercialism, a trade war is in progress. The competition of countries in the mailtets of the world suggests that unity within the Empire is the only way by which the produce from the Dominions will find the safest markets. On this subject Sir Alfred Monel, a great student of economies, has supplied the London “Spectator” with an appeal for that degree of Empire unity which is essential for the national well-being. He writes: I think our eyes ought to be turned seawards towards our Dominions, rather than towards Europe. The oceans unite us; they do not- divide. The British Empire contains within itself almost every known or required material, food, and every necessity for development that is required; it is richer in resources and contains a larger aggregate population than any other economic unit that could he created. We command not only mineral resources, but we control, almost exclusively, some of the most important and vital materials. T need only refer to the nickel fields of Canada, the rubber of the Malay Peninsula, the tin of the British Empire. We have potentialities to stagger humanity to serve for generations. If it were only possible to handle this vast complex with different Dominions, Colonies, protectorates as one economic whole, and develop it to the best advantage, we should he in a position to obtain for all the members of the combination terms and conditions in

(lu> world's market.s, modifications :>'xJ amendments «*1" tariti :t•<!ui*•- and l devoid.> a .prosperity ini' exceeding si iiy tfi i n;r the world tins ovor soon. ll' wo could only look ul the Empire ns ;i whole mid not in sections; if wo t could visualise if ns one economic! unit mitli it policy whereby tliero could I l:c free intercourse of the Empire's ’ (foods within its own territories, ‘its , America lots from New Volk to Kan Francisco, as Canada Inis from Halifax lo Vancouver, will) the necessary protection against those outside, we s should form that third group which is obviously called tor to counterbalance the two industrial alliances of America and Europe. No one is more aware than I am of the diffienlties of such a project. hut 1 am deeply convinced that these difiieulties . will have to he solved if the Empire is to survive. Separate and dillcrent ,| economic units mutually excluding each other, endeavouring to make their own arrangements separately with only that bargaining power that each one individuallv possess, must obviously lrc much weaker than the whole conducting collective hargaining. (treat Britain is only a small part of the Kmpire. Canada has only the population of (treater London; Australia loss; India is a small part when compared with the Empire as a -whole. Such unification will he a task of groat difficulty. No one is more fullv aware than f of the fact that you cannot 3 suddenly dislocate exist in* mamtfae--1 lures. You cannot suddenly destroy ‘ an industry created under one fiscal ' system and replace it on the spur of ’ the moment, but unless you have some ideal, some definite economic policy within the Empire, it is going to disintegrate. And although the difficulties are great, they are not insurmountable. No one ever carries j through a great purpose if he begins with difficulties and considers objections to a policy before considering its principle. If we accept, the ideal of a, self-contained British Empire, 1 with its constituent parts using their | power in a concentrated instead of a sectional manner 1 am certain the difficulties will he overcome step by 1 stop.”