THE BURDENS OF EMPIRE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 134, 5 July 1909, Page 2

THE BURDENS OF EMPIRE

UECLAKATIOX BY liiuxisii riiEMijiu. " NAVAL DEFENCE THE LtiSENUE OF LIFE.'' CAUSE OK THE ritESEXT INSEI'UIUTY. TIIE COLONIAL OFFEIiS. Keceived July 4, fi.3u p.m. i/Oiuloji, .irny a. Th« Premier (Mr. 11. 11. Asi|iiitli), ut a mass meeting at Southport, emphasised the need of securing u continuance of the command of tile sea. " Xaval strength is as the essence of life to a'i Empire scattered about the globe," he said. "The insecurity to which we are now exposed is not necessarily due to deliberate hostility, but to the neutral development of other nations, Durng the last few months the colonial dominions have manifested a consciousness of common interest, and are ,iot only prepared but willing to share tiie dill'iculties and burdens; henee the coming conference to consider the relative responsibility of the great self-govern-ing communities. ST. VIXCEXT'S OKFEIt. St. Vincent, July 2. The Legislative Council at St. Vincent resolved to filler Britain one per cent, of its local revenues toward* the Imperial Navy with unfettered conditions. The Council regrets the smallncss of the amount, but declares that the principle is a practical acknowledgment of the gratitude St. Vincent owes to Britain.

St. Vincent lies about 21 miles southvest of St. Lucia. It has an area of 133 square mill* mid a population of 51,771), of whom about 32,000 are blacks'. Kingston (population 4547) is the capita 1. The revenue for IDO7-H was £28,436; the expenditure £24|.f152; drtbt, £3550. The imports for 1000-7 were valued at £00,554. while the exports were valued at ,£04,205. The exports include arrowroot, sugar, cocoa, livo stock, poultry and fruit; while the fisheries arc abundantly productive. Efforts are being made to establish a cotton industry. The Government includes an administrator (Sir Ralph C. Williams, K.C.M.G.) and n legislative Council of four official and four unofficial members, all nominated by the Crown.