CAPACITY FOR SACRIFICE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20623, 12 August 1932, Page 10

CAPACITY FOR SACRIFICE.

ENGLAND FACING HER DIFFICULTIES. LORD BLEDISLOE ADDRESSES EMPIRE SOCIETY. "England's difficulties are immense, but so aro her dogged resolution and her boundless capacity for self-sacrifice. She never displays her racial pre-eminence so markedly as when she has her back to the wall and is lighting strenuously for her economic existence, the freedom of mankind, or tho perpetuation of those high traditions which wo all treasure as a priceless heritage," declared his Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, in the course of an address to the Christchurch branch of the Royal Empire Society yesterday.

"There arc always curs that yelp in all classes of society, and the modem Press in some countries is apt to give too much prominenco to their anti-Brit-ish yappings, -"continued his Excellency, "but Britain was never more solid, more patriotic, or more resolute than she is to-day. She is setting a magnificent example to the Empire and to the world. Tbo formation of her National Government ten months ago, her courage in abandoning the gold standard for the salvation of her trade, the cheerful acquiescence of all classes in her 'swingeing' taxation, the amazing success of her huge conversion loan, and her indomitable and successful struggle for international agreement over reparations at Lausanne have deeply impressed the world with her self-denying sincerity and her unconquerable pluck."

His Excellency said that to no invitation had ho responded with more genuino enthusiasm than to that of tho Koyal Empire Society, partly because the eyes of tho world were to-day concentrated upon the epoch-marking Empire "colloquium" at Ottawa, but chiefly because he was confident that the Empire was tho touchstone of economic equilibrium and industrial progress, not merely within the British Commonwealth of Nations, but throughout the world.

Separatism ratal. "There is no part of that Commonwealth to which separatism is more fatal or solidarity more essential than this ami-kissed Dominion of sturdy Britishers and loyal natives, which finds a market for its exports almost cxclusivelv in the Motherland," said his Excellency, who remarked that it was strange under tho circumstances to find that whereas there were six local branches of the Royal Empire Society in England and five in Australia, there was onlv one in New Zealand. "You have among your objects the maintenance of the power of the Empire and its best traditions, the advancement of Empire trade, and the meeting of 'men of affairs' from all parts of the Empire with a view to improving and co-ordinating its conditions," continued tho Governor-General. "In this last respect your society is indeed a microcosm of an Empire Economic Conference such as is now gathered at the Canadian capital. I noted with dolight your Empire Day message to England, in which you cordially congratulated tho Motherland on her spirit in overcoming the difficulties with which sho has been faced." Warningf of Borne. "As exporters let us ever bear in mind that if we mean to he sellers of our country's output to customers overseas we must also be buyers of their products v whether those countries bo situate within tho British Empire, or, like China, Japan, and Argentina, outside its borders. Empire must no longer be a mere sentiment, worthy though that sentiment may be. It must be an inspiration, a motive force generating constructive energy, not only in nations but in every man, woman, and child belonging to them. Possessed of one quarter of the world's surface, and over ono quarter of its population, we boast of having the greatest Empire in the world. So wo have, and so had Rome 1800 years ago. Should not her experience be a grave warning to us? At tho summit of her power the canker of luxury, extravagance corruption, and public bribery ate into her soul, and as the historian. Gibbon, dramatically relates, brought about her downfall, and with it the crash of the world civilisation. When the Roman Empire collapsed the world reverted for 200 years to a condition of depraved barbarism, known as tho Dark Ages. Let us by all means be optimists, but in the light of past world experience let us ask ourselves what is the secret of optimism and of the renewed confidence for which a bewildered world is yearning with pathetic intensity? Awakening to the Position. "Is it to be found in pretending that there are no clouds on tho economic horizon or that they aro the figment of the brain of some self-seeking section of the body politic? Is it to be found in saying, 'Wait till the clouds roll by' without making any personal effort to dispel them? More effectively and infinitely more reassuring would be the slogan 'Work till the clouds roll by,' striving earnestly to take in hand sonic at least of the activities by which your sturdy pioneers, by sweat and vision, built up this country and created a grand heritage for posterity, but which have fallen increasingly on the shoulders of that impersonal abstraction known as the State, which can no longer carry the burden. "It is because I see a definite awakening among all classes in this Dominion to the realities of the present position and to their own responsibilities in the task of amelioration that I am to-day a confirmed optimist regarding its future and its influence in advancing materially the salutary objects of the Royal Empire Society, whose hospitality I gratefully acknowledge."