EMPIRE SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 31, 6 February 1936, Page 8

EMPIRE SERVICE.

EARL OF SELBOURNE. LORD BLEDISLOE'S FRIEND. AUTHORITY ON AGRICULTURE. Retired after more than half a century in the service of the Empire, the Earl of Selbourne, with his wife, is making his first visit to Xew Zealand aboard the tourist liner Otranto. His visit is in part the result of his close personal friendship with Lord Bledisloe, the late Governor-General, who had spoken very highly of the Dominion when he returned to Great Britain. "Lord Bledisloe is still very, very fond <>f Xew Zealand and its people," stated the Earl of Selbourne. "In fact, he is what the Americans would call 'a great booster for Xew Zealand,' and, looking at Auckland from the deck of lliis steamer, I must say that I think his praise fully justified." From 1895 to 1900 the Karl of Selbourne was Secretary for the Colonics, during which time ho piloted through the House of Lords the Commonwealth Bill, which, after much bitter controversy, had been framed in Australia for the purpose of setting up the Federal Government.

"When, in 1900, I was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty, our attention was concentrated 011 the possible menace of an offensive alliance between Kussia and France," lie. remarked. "Within two years, however, we realised that Germany was the real menace to the peace of Europe and that, sooner or later, Germany and Great Britain would he in conflict. Then commenced a tremendous expansion of the British Navy—the beginning of the armaments race —in which Admiral Fisher, as First Sea Lord, was the guiding technical miiul. Not only were the number of ships and their personnel increased, but docks and coaling stations were established all over the world. During my five years as Frst Lord of the Admiralty, steam turbines and water-tube boiler.*, dreadnoughts and submarines were first intioduced. It was a most busy and a most interesting time, for the work done then was to stand us in good stead ten years later, when the long-foretold coniliet commenced."

"Although Britain's naval strength has again been allowed to fall to a dangerously low level, as it was at the beginning of the century, the British Government cannot be justly blamed for that," he declared. "Britain's first ta.sk after the Avar was (o set her finances right, and the Navy had to be sacrificed to economy. This was a grave risk to take, as subsequent events have proved. Mussolini would never have done what he has if he did not think that he could ignore Great Britain, and he is not the only one who has 'got a swelled head.' The Japanese seem to lie suffering badiy from the same complaint."

After his term as First Lord of the Admiralty the Earl of Selbourno succeeded Lord Milner as High Commissioner for South Africa during the strained times following the Boor War, and was there when the Union was effected, leaving soon afterwards, to be followed by Lord Gladstone as first Governor-General.

Under the Asquith Coalition Government in 1915-10 the Karl of Sclbourne was chairman of the Board of Agriculture, on which he was associated with Lord Bledisloe. As a result of his experience in that capacity, during the time that the German submarine blockade threatened to starve Britain into submission, he holds very strong views on the necessity of Great Britain encouraging her own agriculturists.

"England has been badly let down by the free trade policy," he declared. "The danger of relying 011 imported food was very definitely shown in the last war but apart from the. considerations of safety and security CJrcat Britain noetic an agricultural population balancing her industrial population, to maintain the .standard of physique. Moreover, a prosperous agricultural population at home is the best market for Britain's manufactures. You cannot therefore expect the British Government to sacrifice the British farmer for the sake of those in the Dominions, any more than the Dominions. Governments would do the reverse. Great Britain will make the best possible compromise with the Dominions 011 the question of the importation of their produce, but that is the most that the Dominions can ox-sect.