HANDS" ACROSS THE SEA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 229, 20 June 1908, Page 10

HANDS" ACROSS THE SEA.

PRINCE OF WALES OH IMPERIAL UNITY. APPEAL FOB MUTUAL CONFIDENCE. "An inspiring pronouncement on the common " interests, aims, and objects" of tho scattered units of the British Einpiro was mado by tho Prince of Wales at tho annual dinner of the Royal Colonial Institute, of which ho is president. His Royal Highness was supported by a distinguished company, including nearly overy Empire administrator at prosent in London. Aitor tho toast of "The King," proposed by tho Princo, tho Hon. Thomas Price, South Australia's Labour Premier, in proposing the toast of "Tho Queen, tho Prince and Princess of Wales, and tho other members of tho Royal Family," said that ho was sure thoy would permit him to say that no more loyal or truer subject and servant of His Majesty was prosent than he, and that also applied to those ho represented. Referring to Australia, Mr. Price, said thoy wanted peoplo to occupy it, and he .was prepared-to say that tho great Continent of Australia was being prepared for white men to go and live among them, and thoy in Australia anticipated that before vory long the tide which was ilowiug in tho direction of Canada would find its way to Australia. The Prince's Reply. The Prince, in replying, first congratulated Lord Dudley on his appointment to tho Governor-Generalship of Australia. He continued :—

" During the timo that lias elapsed silica J. first went to sea, in the year 1872, Tliavo been ablo to visit almost every part of our Empire.. I havo.been deeply sensiblo of my. good fortune, and, without boasting, I can claim that probably no one in this room has landed on so many different portions of the British soil as I have. This sumiper I shall again cross tho Atlantic in order to represent the King at,the celobration of tlio first colonisation of Canada three hundred years a P°- Such experiences have, of course, only afforded glimpses, but I think' sufficient to ga.ui a slight acquaintance with those countnes and with those peoples. Tlioy have ouablod mo to form some idea of our grdat Empire, to realise its vastness, its resources, its latent strength. They havo brought homo to pie tho fact so well expressed in a recent articlo 111 ono of our reviews, that to-day by England wo do not mean those island's in tho western so as, but an England which 13 spread over the whole surfsco of tho world." Rising again, the Prince proposed the toast' of the British dominions beyond tho seas— "a toast not hitherto proposed ■ at tlieso annual gatherings," 11 c * oe3 Ilot BCC ™ ou k °f place," he said, . when tto consider that, ono of the first objects of this institute-is to develop tho true spirit of Empire and to strengthen thoso links of kinship which will bind lor arer the .vast and varied portions of tho ovei'seas dominions with tho Mother Country. Events more so quickly that wo are apt to forget how much has been done in this direction. It is astonishing to realise what has been accomplished in securing quick, constant, and continuous communication between tho difprovinces of the Empire sinco, say. tho accession of Queen Victoria . But though wo havo been successful in many ways wo must not lose sight of our common interests, aims, and objects, in tho fulfilment of which thero must be mutual efforts and mutual selfsacrifices. Educational Reciprocity. ''Does such co-operation as "wo desire really and fully exist? Unfortunately there has been a 'great improvement in this direction. . We earnestly hope that progress may ba made ill thoroughly grappling with' imperial difficulties and'in strengthening military organisation in timo of peace 110 less tlmn war. »

I also commend to your consideration tho importance of reciprocity in educational matters. A now means of intercourse.and interchange of thought between the members of tho Anglicam.Church throughout" tho Empire assembles in London-next month, and I believe that every preparation is being made to givo to its members a hearty, welcome throughout the country. (Cheers.) Is thero not much to be accomplished by strengthening tho. social-relations; by "tho Mother Country malting it clear to her children that they are always certain of finding hero a home, not in namo pnly, but in reality and the same warm-hearted hospitality as is always extended to us in every portion of tho globe, whero tho British flag flies? (Cheers.) "I Jiayo endeavoured to touch lightly on tho vital necessity for reciprocal action between thoso at Homo and our brothers across tho seas. Wo must foster now and alwavs Jie strongest feeling of mutual confidcn'co and respect by methods of education, of unity of action ill everything that leads towards tho noblesu ideals of civilisation. By utilisnig the great powers of scienco and by moans of defenco by sea and Jand ivo must strive to maintain all that we esteem most dear. If wo hold hands across tho seas wo shall pressrvo for-future generations a noble horitago founded upon tho highest patriotism and-knit together'by the ties of raco and ot mutual sympathy and regard."