EMPIRE DAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 18, 27 May 1913, Page 2

EMPIRE DAY.

THE DOMINIONS’ ATTITUDE. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] j Ukited Press Association ." London, May 2d. Speaking at the Queen’s Hall on Empire Day the Hon. T. Mackenzie regretted that there were Britishers belonging to the flabby species whose sentimentality was encouraging some emigrants to flout New Zealand’s laws, even to the opening of subscriptions on their behalf. The Opposition to the Defence Act was due to a fear that if successful it would be quoted as a justification for a similar system in Britain. Mr Watt aroused enthusiasm, many standing on chairs and cheering. He said that the object of the Imperial thinker should be to translate sentiment into organics life. John bull and Co. all ovel- the world could do business over their own counters arid sell only the surplus products to outsiders.

The Daily Chronicle says that the representatives of the Dominions have a difficult task to face in the eagerness of the Unionists to exploit them for party purposes. They camo badly to grief on Saturday when a large body wore inveigled to an Empire Day meeting at the Queen’s Hall, organised by the Imperial Mission. The speeches of the Dominion representatives formed a mere chorus to the Unionist Party at the meeting. Such incidents wore regrettable, and would ' not promote’ Imperial unity. The Daily Mail, attacking the | Imperialists see in nationality their chief enemy, and are desirous ; of uprooting it in South Africa. Can- ' ado and Australia, and substituting , a consolidation of the Empire as one j whole. “Wo will not secure Imperial . strength,” it says, “by making school j children regard the Union Jack as a. ! fetish. The flabby sentimentality with i which Empire Day was associated is the worst enemy of the Empire.” 1