The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1927. A MESSENGER OF GOODWILL

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1927. A MESSENGER OF GOODWILL

j' Tin: visit of the Secretary of State for the Dominions to the oversea parts of the British Empire, is being brought very close to all parts by means of \vi relctss broadcasting. Since Mr Amery’s arrival in Victoria, all bis notable evening addresses have been broadcasted, and could be heard plainly in New Zealand. East wecl;’ s address in Melbourne was a case in point, anti another notable occasion was on Monday evening when the address given at the banquet proceedings presided over by the Premier of Victoria, could be heard very plainly over the wireless. Judging by the hearty receptions accorded Mr Amery and the enfhusiasm with which his sentiments are endorsed, he is making an excellent impression. And necessarily so. Mr Amery is a messenger of good will, an envoy of Empire, who has come across the seas to see and learn for himself all about the Dominions. Best of all. his •speeches convey the feelings and dispositions of the Motherland, and the desire there is for that intense cooperation within the Empire which will make the great Commonwealth of Nations greater still. Mr Amery, uc should say is a man of great political capacity. He has been called on early and often to speak, and it is to his credit that he has so much to say that lii.s subjects can he varied so as not to he merely vain repetitious.. In South Africa he did extremely well, and it is not too much to believe that his voice and manner had something to do with the amicable settlement oPthe Flags incident. He has traversed West Australia and South Australia and Tasmania. He lias covered much of Victoria, and will soon “do" New South Wales and Queensland, with New Zealand to follow. Such a mission is no light strain, and it is pleasing to know that lie is standing up to his task so well. While he lias much to learn, ho is also imparting much understanding ami knowledge to the peoples he is meeting. He is bringing a touch of the Homeland. Investing distant subjects with a homely atmosphere which brings us to realise how inter-depen-dent the Empire is. He preaches cooperation within, that strength may be shown without, bv the unity of spirit and action created. Mr Amery may he regarded as no mean Empire builder. and his mission must achieve a great deal. An important feature of Mr Amery’s Melbourne discourse was has reference to Britain’s naval power.

It is just as well that the young nations on this side of the world should be from time to time reminded that “it is.only under the shelter ot a navy strong enough to maintain us that v>e can develop our free institutions and preserve the standards which we have set mi.” And even if the British Xavv were not our chiel line ol defence against foreign aggression, it would still he indispensable t) us, because it guards on our behalf the ocean highways of the world, and thus preserves in the interest of all civilised peoples “the freedom of the seas.” But Mr Amerv is not concerned .so much about the political security, of flic 1 Empire as about- its internal condition. More especially, ho admits that tlieie is cause for apprehension in the fact that the Empire’s population is badly distributed. 1 lie lad that “it is mostlv concentrated in one little island constitutes a serious danger not only from the naval or military standpoint, but in an economic sense as well. Ibe natural remedy for this lack of balance would seem to bo the transference of Britain’s superlluous workers to the vacant spines in the Dominions. BuL Mr Ainorv is too much of a statesman to imagine for a moment that such a policy is practicable without much preliminary preparation. It is easy to talk about imperial emigration, but, as Mr Ainorv aptly puts it, “Britain cannot solve its unemployment problem by creating one here.” Emigrants must be carefully chosen, in view of their probable aptitude lor the occupations and forms of life to which they must adjust themselves in their now homes. Blit, above all, when they come her they must, find work ready for them to do. This means as Air Ainery has indicated “the creation of new industries’’ on this side of the world to absorb the surplus of Britain’s industrial populat ion. On this point our distinguished truest- uuule r.-o attempt t*> elaborate bis argument. But Mr \inerv’s long association with the Tariff reform movement and bis references to the need for “the conservation of our economic energy” and the “combination of our economic forces” leave little uncertainty as to the commer-

cial policy that lie desires the Domin ions to adopt.