IMPERIAL ONE-NESS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 13, 10 July 1911, Page 7

IMPERIAL ONE-NESS

LORD ISLINGTON'S BROAD SKETCH. HINT ON SERVICE OVERSEA. At tlio banquet in connection with the opening of the Dominion Show at Ha- 1 wera last week. Lord Islington delivered « a speech on Imperial unity. He said that, as Governor of this Dominion for I the time heing, he thought that lie re-1 ' presented the ollicial and living link be- ' tween this country and the Old Country, and not only that, hut in our Imperial < system lie represented the link between this Dominion and the other dominions subject under tho British Crown. He • felt that, in discharging his duties ba Coventor, he could not carry out his mission more effectively than by associating himself with and encouraging those industries and institutions winch go*towards the building up of the prosperity of the Dominion. bcc:mse he believed' that the first foundation of Imperial unity was to see that our common foundations were sound and stable. A very important development had taken place during his year's sojourn here, viz., the establishment of a universal system of defence for New Zealand, and. ultimately. for the defence of the Empire. Ho did not think that anything eould be more satisfactory than the scheme which liiul now been set in motion hy Gtmeml fiodlev. In a few years' time it would result in New Zealand having a splendid force which, in time of emergency, would be readv to defend this country, and perfectly ' ready—lie was sure—to i

take its sharp in any. ImperiaWiiicrjjenc.y 1 wliit'll might occur. Referring to the Imperial Conference. Lord Islington said that whatever decisions might have ■been arrived at. the very discussions would in themselves have advanced the path of Imperial unity. Me believed that, there was in all the dominions, and especially in New Zealand, an increasing desire on the part of the people that, on all those questions which lie outside the common affairs of their own country, some scheme should he devised by which all the countries would be brought toI getlier in some more practical way than had been the case in the past.. The | closer we were united, and the stronger we were asj an Empire, the greater would be the chances of peace in the world, and that was an end which we all desired. It was his duty to encourage and stimulate public opinion in the diiection of helping forward the movement, in favor of Imperial unity, and, in doing so, lie felt that he would be carrying out his mission to the best advantage. The Hon. T. Mackenzie said that his Excellency's remarks had been listened to bv him with great pleasure. Regard- I ing 'the Imperial Conference, he said that, although the discussion had done good, he felt that, unless soiuefliing practical were evolved right a.\\a\, Britain would he delaying too long. The time had quite arrived foT hearing, the various ideas, aspirations, and complaints of the various component parts of the Empire. They could not expect

the young nations rising under the Bri-I tish flag to t>e altogether dominated) by a Parliament elected, not on Imperial,; but on domestic issues. I