Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1939. MAKING THE EMPIRE SECURE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 January 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1939. MAKING THE EMPIRE SECURE.

_AS it has thus far been outlined, the Youth City scheme which is being sponsored .in Great Britain by a committee ol I ormer Governors-General, including Lord Bledisloe, in whom this country has a, very able and understanding friend, appears to hold excellent possibilities. The (future of the Empire depends almost wholly upon the preparation of its youth, jn their various countries, for their responsibilities of citizenship. It is very necessary that this preparation should take account, not only of .the call of working and national lite in each part of the Empire, but of the collective life of the larger entity of which we speak as the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Today the development of the Empire and the utilisation of its available resources are hampered greatly by the parochial, outlook thal is too common in the -Mother Country and in Ihe Dominions. It may be hoped that we are being at once impelled and taught by the present course of world affairs and events to develop the larger outlook that is demanded in an association, of free nations, and in particular are beginning to perceive that the future security of the Empire must depend on effective concerted action. We are proud as a people ol: our pioneering past, but the past must be built upon with a courage ami enterprise not inferior to that of the pioneers in their day if the Empire is to maintain itself in security and strength.

It may be supposed that the Youth City movement if it is supported as it should be, will become a. very valuable means of inculcating and promoting worthy ideals of Empire and ol: opening the way to policies under which all limited ami sectional, interests will be subordinated to the effective peopling and development of the Empire. This noteworthy project, of which more no doubt will be heard in the immediate future, takes its place with other evidence of an awakening in Britain and in. some parts of the overseas Empire to the Reed qI: shaping much bolder policies of constructive enterprise than have sufficed for a considerable time past. Recently, lor instance, it was reported from London that the British Empire Union had written to Mr Chamberlain

submitting that the present world tendencies necessitate the immediate adjustment of Empire problems, including the development of natural resources, and readjustment of the population between England, the Dominions and colonies.

Having touched upon the advantages to be derived by all. sections of the nation from well-directed migration and the development of the resources of the Dominions, the Empire Union added that: —

Peace depended on a united Empire, with closer co-operation between the component parts. Therefore the English and Dominion Governments should formulate a mutually advantageous constructive scheme.

Statements of this kind have been made and heard so often that they are apt to be passed over wearily as mere platitudes. The position to be faced today, however, is that in the absence of “a mutually advantageous constructive scheme” the security of the Empire must be increasingly endangered. The continued inviolability of lightly populated and developed Dominions cannot be taken for granted in a world in which a number of powerful nations are ruled by governments iinseriipiilonsly intent on aggression and exploit at ion.

Il is very necessary Hint the yotilh of flu 1 Empire should bo taught Io reg'ard the Empire as a heritage to be developed, Iml il is not loss necessary in these critical days fhal the teaching should be conveyed by example as well as by precept. An milerprising development of the Empire is splendidly worth while as a means of giving full expression to the colonising genius of the British race. It is demanded also, and that imperatively, in the present epoch of world history., as a means of raising the strongest possible barriers against any aggression that may be attempted by the totalitarian States.

In this country an expansion of industry that will permit a progressive increase of population has become much more than a necessary means of ensuring improving standards of prosperity. Il is in addition an essential means of establishing a margin of security with which we can afford to be content. In the extent to which the demands of the si I uat ion arc realised, intelligent private effort throughout the Dominion, as well as public policy, will he directed to bringing about the expansion of balanced productive enterprise which alone'will (‘liable our country to build up the greater population it urgently needs.