EMPIRE’S TOUGHEST TIME

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14618, 11 March 1948, Page 5

EMPIRE’S TOUGHEST TIME

COMBATTING FORCES OP COMMUNISM

Appeal By Secretary Of Overseas League

Joint Policy Of Close

Co-operation

c tlme has come the OverL ? ague to become a far more SS 1 n° rce than lt is at Present,” said Co mma nder D. C. Kinloch, O-8.E., R.N. (Retd.), in an address to members, of the Wellington branch of the League and repisaWom ;iVe3 other Empire organ-

The development secretary of the league in London, the commander was discussing the League’s, postwar programme for strengthening empire unity, at a reception arranged by the Wellington branch in his honour and held in the E.S.U. Rooms.

Before the war the Empire was L™ P r etty strong and united and the Empire societies had no particular duties or difficulties in trying to preserve that state,” he said. “And during the war their chief concern was helping the troops overseas. But now it falls to every organ-v isation such as ours to prevent Communistic forces from deliberately undermining the Empire. I need not emphasise that this is the toughest me for the Empire and therefore the work of the League and what it might be becomes all the more important.

“The chief idea of all Empire societies is trying to keep the Empire together and to do that now they must enforce a joint policy, of close co-operation. We each have a particular loyalty to the society* to which we belong, but before we can have any influence on the individual who has never heard of them and is apathetic about the state of the Empire, we must present a united and completely co-operative front.” Commander Kinloch recalled that Cecil Rhodes first thought of the idea of having a “secret society” of intelligent, level-headed people which had as its chief aim the determination that no evil influence could be introduced into the British Empire by some outside power. He considered that military defence would take care of the guarding of the Empire from outside but it was inside' that the bonds of Empire should ,be strengthened. A Business Concern Sir Evelyn Wrench founded the Overseas League, said Commander Kinloch, with the plan of carrying out Cecil Rhodes ideas. He had thought that the League should be run like a business concern to keep the Empire strong. Just as businessmen travelled to enlist the interest of people throughout the country so should the League put all its efforts into making contacts and furthering business. “It’s tragic,” he said, “to see how few of his ideas have ever borne fruit.”

“However, for the first time in its life the League now has a decent bank balance annually and is able to make plans for wider development,” he continued. “A sum of money is being set aside each year for this development. It should be nossible to widen our influence and to bring those people who are uncertain regarding their allegiance the certainty that there is’ none greater than the British way of life." Commander Kinloch explained that the League’s money was being used first to strengthen central administration then for the reestablishment of branches that had failed, the inauguration of new branches, and the expansion of existing ones. He said that there were three main requirements for each branch before it could run smoothly and spread its influence. They were (1) to have, premises, (2) to be on a sound financial footing, (3) to have the right people running it. ■