IGNORANCE A THREAT TO BRITISH EMPIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 170, 20 July 1935, Page 9

IGNORANCE A THREAT TO BRITISH EMPIRE.

SEPARATION PERIL.

Cabinet Ministers' Lack of Knowledge.

VISCOUNT BLEDISLOE'S VIEW.

(United I'.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received 11 a.m.)

LONDON, July 19,

"I endorse Mr. Forbes' regret that members of the British Cabinet lack personal knowledge of the Dominions. Their ignorance is no more marked than that concerning New Zealand," said Viscount Bledisloe, speaking at the Empire Society's summer school.

Yet the Empire's future rested predominantly in their hands, he continued. If their knowledge was second-hand and scanty, the British proletariat, as well as members of Parliament, were still more ignorant. This was seriously threatening ultimate Dominion separation. Lord Bledisloe paid a tribute to New Zealand as a country of nature's gentlefolk socially and almost ideally democratic. The average standard of education was very high. The reading of newspapers and books was wider spread than elsewhere in the Empire. Even the poorest people were generally well-informed on the nation's and the world's affairs. Courtesy and good manners were universal. There was very little swearing and drunkenness, and shabbily-dressed people were seldom seen.