EMPIRE'S IDEAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 428, 9 August 1928, Page 1

EMPIRE'S IDEAL

“TO BE INDISPENSABLE TO WORLD”

CITIZENSHIP DISCUSSED “Self-centred, self-satisfied men have been rightly held to be not citizens. In fact, they are civic defaulters,” said Archbishop Averill to-day at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Mr. M. Stewart, vice-president, presided and the Primate spoke on “Citizenship.” Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., president of the Young Citizens’ Association, was also a guest. “I think we will all appreciate the privileges of this no mean country of a no mean Empire,” remarked the speaker. “The best friends of a country are not the men who hide its weaknesses or are afraid to state them. It is just as wrong to withhold praise as to withhold criticism.” “When people spoke of the superiority of other countries and institutions he had only one answer, and that was ‘if you know of a better hole, got to it’ “Privileges could not be separated from responsibilities and duties, and when responsibility gave way to pleasure and gross immortality as it did in the Roman Empire the aeath-knell was sounded. IMPERIALISM INSUFFICIENT “We have still to go a little further than to think imperially, in order to attain to real citizenship. Nations are liustiing nations, and the world is growing smaller and smaller as the means of communication are increasing and we have not to think imperially but world-widely. •’Auckland,” he said, “owed a tremendous lot to many public-souled citizens, who, it was to be hoped, would prove an inspiration in the future. “There is a great deal of the spirit of the trenches in Auckland now, but there is still room for more,” he continued. “Until we can get business and service together we will not get any starting point for a better undertsanding between the classes. PUBLIC SERVICE

“Many of our best and ablest men shrink from public service, and if we are apathetic to our local government and parliamentary representatives we are failing in the highest purpose of citizenship. We want more men and women with souls above mere utilitarian matters. There is too much moral apathy, and we must realise that, as citizens, we are our brother’s keepers. “The war had proved that the individual was for the benefit of the State, and conscription under necessity was right,” he said.

“They boasted of their patriotism, but patriotism that cost nothing was no patriotism. A narrow nationalism based on a feeling of superiority was degrading. “We have a lot to learn from the little Japanese, who were with us last week. ‘My country, right or wrong,’ is just about as bad as ’business is j business.’ There can be no patriotism without service. “I am very glad the Government has tackled the question of mental degenerates, and it will be a sad thing if the proposed Rill is withdrawn owing to wet-blanket expression by the public. It was brought down with an increase in virility in view and, though it may require some licking into shape, it is a most important measure. “I can sum up my ideal of the Empire as follows: It can only reach its ideal when the world acknowledges that the British Empire is indispensable to the order, peace and well-being of the world.’