"LIGHTHOUSE OF EMPIRE."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 209, 4 March 1914, Page 2

"LIGHTHOUSE OF EMPIRE."

IKH SINi; TIUC COLONIES' KEI'KESKXTATIVKS. STAT KM ENT BY KAIiL OREY. J!y Telegraph—Press Association. Duncdin, Monday. In I lie course of an interview to-night, Kiiii Crey made the following statement:—"Regarding tin' suggestion I have put forward for tlit- act] 11 isition of tlii' moat centrally-situated site in London for tile erection of a block of- buildings for housing the overseas representatives, it has been received with unanimous enthusiasm by the press, not only in the United Kingdom, but those in self-governing dominions. There is no part of the Empire in which the idea has been more warmly received than it lias by the press of New Zealand. It rests with the dominions who have selfgoverning Slates, such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, whether a block of Imperial buildings shall be elected in the centre of London, which will impress not only London but the whole world of the greatness of the overseas dominions. The building ought to be the finest in London, and, rising above Somerset Mouse, will lie visible by day over the greater part of London, if the proposal to erect the tower, which will rise like a lighthouse of Empire from the centre of the three acres of the dominion buildings, lie realised, anil if the tower is higher than the top of St. Paul's the beacon from its summit will be visible by night to every house in London. "Just think what that means—bringing as it will new hope and encouragement to every British heart, and making every New Zealandcr. Australian, Canadian and Briton realise that the finest building in London belonged to him! | "Plans have been made by way of suggestion which show that it will be pos- | sible to have in the centre of the Domini ion House a hall as large as Westminster Hall, twice as long and twice as wide, and in this hall will be on view, if the dominions like to take advantage of the opportunity, the exhibits of their produce. At the present time no one knows where to go to buy dominion produce, but as it is the desire of every Briton who is worthy of his blood to give preference to the produce of kinsmen from over the seas you will realise what an advantage it will lie to your growers when arrangements to which 1 have referred are made for focussing the attention -of the -people of England on what your Dominion produces. Everyone will know the Dominion House, and while at present 110 British householder knows where to obtain dominion fruit, when this plan is carried into effect every householders will be able to gratify his desire of consuming dominion produce, and this will prove beneficial to the dominions."