SENSE OF NATIONHOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 122, 25 May 1932, Page 9

SENSE OF NATIONHOOD.

NEWI ZEALAND'S DESTINY. "MAGNIFICENT HERITAGE." HIS EXCELLENCY'S ADVICE Miss, J. A. Mowbray, in -welcoming the Governor-General Lord Bledisloe and the Lady Bledisloe to the Empire Ball held by the Victoria League last evening, referred to the function as an old-established custom of the league to commemorate Empire Day. It was considered this year that to hold the ball would also give an added stimulus to trade, and it was one way that the league could help in relieving distress. Lord Bledisloe said that since they had met a year ago a great change in policy of the Old Country had taken place and in consequence a historic gathering was about to be hold in the oldest Dominion of the Empire. It could only be hoped that by it success would be achieved in the Empire; but loyalty, patriotism and a readiness for sacrifice would be urgently needed to bring it about. "We cannot expect to be in true sense a of nations," said his Excellency, "unless we develop a true sense of nationhood, and this can only come about by patriotic sacrifice, courage, self-discipline and confidence in our destiny." New Zealanders had a magnificent heritage, the country, he was convinced, had a great future, and its people should be proud to belong to it. He suggested that New Zealanders should exercise the sterling old British virtues that had built up the Empire, and by doing this New Zealand would easily become the brightest jewel in the Crown of the Empire.