EMPIRE DEVELOPMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1929, Page 3

EMPIRE DEVELOPMENT

AN IMPERIAL BOARD

SIR RQB-ERT HADFIELD’S PLAN

; .'. LONDON, June 27. , '' : • , Sir- Rpbert Hadfield ,the iron and jsteel ; .manufacturer and metaflurgist i nan article in the Empire Mail, advicates development of the Empire, based on the creation of an Imperial board. Sir Robert Hadfield expresses the. opinion that there is too much timidity in Great Britain. The nab-' ion requires in Imperial development f nd ,of considerable magnitude which should e raised and used under agreement with fellow citizens overseas. A Federal .council or Empire development board should be formed with representatives from, all ports of the Empire, and' should be a permanent organisation ,containing personnel from each country. The sessions of the central board need not be continuous, but the yshould be more frequent than those of the Imperial onference, and "they should be held in Great Britain the various dominions, .and the prin- ! ' cipal colonies in rotation. Though there might be some lionorary workers the permanent staff should consist of highly paid officials ■ ' thus attracting our very, best,” con- &§ tinued Sir Robert Hadfield. “Each v .> ■ • member should be elected for a mini- • mum of two or three years, subject to extension if engaged in a particular scheme. The main organisation should offer tempting posts to men of the highest ability. The dominions rightly desire to work out their own .destinies ,and they can do this under a plan of Empire development more quickly and more thoroughly than if they rely entirely. upon their own resources. The needs of each part of the Empire are each other’s opportunity. "-X “The board should devote special atI tention to new means of transport such •W ns railways ,tramways, roads and dock •.. hydro-electric (plans, new industries, and the opening up of new districts for farming. Appropriations would be set aside for the execution of development projects with a guarantee from the V Empire Development Board supported •?. by the Government. The Empire needs capital readily .subscribed. The parts of the Empire should be encouraged to support the project with money and labour. It is also desirable that the project should include cheap fares, whereby migrants would be enabled to revisit their form-

er homes periodically, thus abolishing Uy the idea otf lifelong exile. In order V* v j;hat party politics may be excluded the Empire council should include representatives of the opposition as well as the Government. Lastly, co-operation not dictation, must be the guiding jlljnciplo. Words alone are of no use. Action is demanded!”