The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1922. EMPIRE DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1922. EMPIRE DAY.

Athough the observance of Empire Day in New Zealand has been overshadowed by Anzac Day, it is still an anniversary that is worthy of keeping, as it calls prominently to mind what the Empire is and what it stands for. Especially is it fitting that Empire Day should be honored in the right way at Home, so that its significance should be impressed on the rising generation, and its moral brought before the nations of the world as presenting such a Unity of scattered peoples as the world has never before seen. History has on many occasions shown how nations have joined together to become strong and dominant by means of their strength, but the British Empire stands unique, inasmuch as there i# no desire or aim in the direction of aggrandisement ; no thought of making war to maintain its strength and make other nations subservient, but is solely animated by the spirit of justice, freedom and unity, the Empire’s real aim being to promote concord, amity, progress and prosperity throughout the world. Lord Northeliffe, the chief proprietor of the London Times, the founder of the Daily Mail and the owner of several other newspapers, has only recently returned to Britain after a tour of the Dominions of the Empire, with the result that the first anniversary of Empire Day that occurred after his return has seen The Times issue 1 a special Empire supplement in which much prominence is given to Lord Northeliffe’s views and suggestions on Empire affairs, particularly as to the effect of the Washington Conference on Britain and the Dominions, as well as the need for greater populations to fill the large gaps in Australia and elsewhere. The view expressed in The Times leader commenting on Empire Day and the supplement, to the effect that theEmpire is no longer a group of far-flung dependencies, but “a chain of mighty nations girdling the world,” is particularly appropriate to the main theme connected with the anniversary. The chief object-lesson i the .Empire should convey to outside nations is the value of unity and cooperation, whereby not only is the Empire maintained in all its glorious majesty and power, but stands as a proteetoi’ of the weak and for the uplifting of mankind. Its immense corporate strength may well be regarded as the greatest safeguard for civilisation the world has ever known, or is ever likely to know. It may be thought that the message of New Zealand’s High Commissioner (Sir James Allen) is well worthy of the occasion. He regards the day as standing for something more than the perpetuation of the memory of Queen Victoria, while stressing the importance of preventing the essential good gained in the Victorian era being dissipated. That is the solemn trust and obligation! which will be handed down to| succeeding generations, a trust! that impels the people of the Em-| pire to improve to the best of their ability the marvellous heritage into which they enter, so that when they, in their turn, depart to a future existence, they may have the satisfaction of leaving the Empire better than they found it, and so helped to be of still further service to mankind. Troubles there are to encounter in plenty, but unity and cooperation will overcome all difficulties and trials. The great example which the British Premier has given to the statesmen of other Powers, and even of the smaller nationalities, is an inspiring force for good and should be an incentive to peace, progress, toleration and breadth of view. The British Empire and what it stands for is worthy of a special day of honor, and it is pleasing to note that from the central seat of this Empire there has come a fitting conception of the spirit that should animate all the units on Empire Day..