BRITISH EMPIRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2750, 26 June 1924, Page 3

BRITISH EMPIRE.

A PRICELESS HERITAGE

MISSION FOR THE FUTURE.

MR MASSEY’S MESSAGE. Wellington, June 23. On Empire Day, some time ago, their Majesties the King and Queen spoke an Empire message which was broadcasted throughout the British Empire. In December last, advantage was taken of the presence of Mr Massey in London, in connection with the Imperial Conference, to get him to give a patriotic message to the Empire at large. This Mr Massey did, and the message has now been issued in the form of a record entitled “The British Empire.” On the reverse side of the record appears very appropriately the New Zealand national anthem “God Defend New Zealand,” which was sung for the purpose by the wellknown baritone/Peter Dawson, with full chorus and orchestra and the whole concluding with a verse o j. “God Save Jibe King;” Mr Massey’s Empire message—the first, record made in this way l>y a Dominions’ Premier —is a fourminute one, as follows; —“Fellow Citizens, —I propose to address yon a few thoughts on the. British Empire. Its far-flung territories comprise one-fourth of the land surface of the globe. Its population numbers approximately four hundred and fifty millions, of whom a very large majority differ from us of the Anglo-Saxon’races in blood, language and colour. These people, like ourselves, glory in their British nationality, and we hold the Empire as a sacred trust no less for them than for ourselves. The pages of history are rich with records of deeds that won the Empire, of brave and noble acts performed on sea and land, in war and peace. The fundamental principles of freedom, justice and independence have long been deeply implanted in our race, and to British citizens I want to stress with all the emphasis at my

command what a priceless heritage h ours to-day. It is for us to preserve if untarnished and to hand il on to succeeding generations not only inviolate, but greater and more influential in everything that makes for fhe good of humanity.* The dominions and dependencies of the Empire are linked to the Mother - land by lies of blood, kinship, and tradition. These ties were cemented by the poignant sacrifices made in the Great War.

“The Imperial Conference, at which T have fhe honour of representing that most British of countries, the Dominion of New Zealand, is now engaged in an earnest consideration of problems that confront the Empire, Among these are questions in relation to national defence, and pre-eminently naval defence, which is of supreme and vital importance to an Empire which has been lmilt up and exists by sea power. There are many matters also 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 in-tov-Tmperial trade, hut there is no royal road to prosperity. It must be by industry and hard work on the part of each and every one. By this means will fhe Empire fulfil what I believe to be its great mission: to spread justice, knowledge, and pence into the darkest corners of the earth. With the. blessing of Divine Providence, with wise slatesmanship on the part of rulers and loyalty on the part of its people, the British Empire will last for all time, the greatest the world has ever seen—united nations of Britain, one King, one flag’, one Empire. No easy hope or lies shall bring us to our goal, hut the iron sacrifice of body will and shall. “There is hut one path for all- “ For each one life to give. “Who stands if freedom fall ? “Who dies if England live?”