AN EMPIRE PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1917, Page 7

AN EMPIRE PROBLEM.

UNIFYING THE DOMINIONS. _ The position of New Zealand in relation to the Empire was referred to by Sir James Allen (Minister of Defence), in the course of his address at the public meeting held at Stratford on Wednesday evening. Sir James Allen said that. Jiy their philosophy, good humor, and determinaton to win the war, the people of New Zealand had exhibited a characteristic of nation-making of the highest type. He hoped all those present read the daily papers and had perused the statement made by him the day before concerning the formation of the. Industrial Efficiency Board, and said among the difficult problems that had to be faced were the maintenance of our reinforcements and the preservation of our essential industries, and organisation of labor in order to carry them on. Colonel Allen called on the people to assist the Board in every way possible. The Board would have to consider the utilisation of waste products, and improving the industries indigenous to the country. One point ot the statement he had made to the press was pregnant with meaning. The soldiers would be coming back to the country before long, and one object of thp Government was to see that they were given positions that would be, if possible, above them. The Government wanted to set them on a higher plane in life than the one they occupied before they went away (applause). In addition to the organisation of the industries the Government wanted to call in the aid of science so as to improve New Zealand industfy in every way, and it . was proposed to set up an industrial and scientific research committee to attain this end. An even more important problem than all these had to be faced by the country, Sir James proceeded, and that was the question of our position in relation to the Empire. We were only a unit in the organisation of the ■Empire, and hitherto bonds of sentiment only had held New Zealand to the Mother Country. Very few people in Canada, South Africa, or New Zealand would be content to go on under the old conditions. It seemed inevitable thatsome change should come. Schemes for Empire control had been discussed for some years past, and none had yet been adopted. Colonel Allen referred to Lionel Curtis' scheme of an Imperial Parliament, at which representatives of the various divisions would meet in London. , This parliament would have the powers of declaring peace or war, and the control of the army and navy in their hands. They would state the cost of the army and navy and allot each dominion its share, and,if any dominion ' did not pay, would use the army to get that share. Colonel Allen said he did not think any of. the dominions would accept that situation. Lord Biyce advocated an Imperial council of an advisory nature. As that was only next door to the Imperial council as at present constituted, it would not be of much use. The dominions would have to make up their minds what to do. It was his opinion that if there was to be an Empire, they would have to find a middle course. Ho favored an Imperial council before an Imperial parliament. If they could not agree on a policy, then the Empire would have to go. He mentioned these matters to them that they might study the position, as they had to make up their minds wdiat was going to be done after the war. New Zealand was too small to make a nation of her own. That was too ludicrous for words. There should be no place in the future of New Zealand for those who want to break away. (Applause). What he did want to see was that the ties of blood and sentiment would bind the Motherland and her dominions more closely together than ever before. (Applause). The responsibility would be theirs if they shattered the Empire. No one could tell whether wars .woufS cease. That had been preached, but the authors were wrong. So far as money was concerned, they would be ;>foud to hear of huge contributions to the victory war loan, and here also were opportunities for sacrifice to' help the Empire. In conclusion Sir .lames AljMn referred to the recent successes on the Somme, in Mesopotamia, and in Egypt, and paid a tribute to the great work of the Allies. The end was not yet, but. they all hoped to see before next summer the climax reached, and every one of their brave sons of New Zealand welcomed bad; again. (Applause).