IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 525, 4 June 1909, Page 4

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

; THE TRUE MEANINC OF EMPIRE DAV. SPEECH BY THE GOVEBNOE. IflX TCLKQUAfIi—I'ttCSS ASSOCIATION.) . Ghrlstchurch, June 3; ' Tho annual Empire celebration in connco--1 tiou with Canterbury College (ook plaoe this; . morning in. the College Hall, The gathor- ' ing which filled the hall was representative • in character. His Excellency tho Governor i Lord i'lunket presided. : , i On rising to speak, Mb Excellonoy received continued applause, lteferring to the oir- : cumstahcei that Canterbury College found it < advisable to postpone tho oelebration of Emi piro, Day. until the .Prince of Wales's Birthday, ho said a. brother Irishman of his had once said to an astonished tiou so of Comr. raons: "No man can bo in two places at tho eamo time." It had boon ft matter of con--1 stant regret .that ho had been only able to ' join with< tho citizens of one of the towns 1 in the Dominion in celebrating Empire Day; ' It was far too often thought and said that ' Empiro Day was created for tho purpose of i reminding them of tho greatness of the Bris tish Empiro, of showing. their pride in what • their forefathers had done, and of tho splendid heritage which they enjoyed. Were that ■ the main argument for its existence, W i would like to point out that ho looked upor - it as more of a dangorthan an advantage but if they read the views of its fowiden they would|find that year-after year thoj 1 were bringing forward a very different view, and the celebrations were not characterised by what was commonly known as "jingoism." The main object was to enable thoso participating in the colebration to realise their duties and responsibilities. Such bo* ing tho real object of Empiro Day it oaxno upon them this year with very special foroc, seeing that the wholo British world had been compelled to think 1 seriously of tfca question how best to render tho Kmpiroabsolutely secure. (Applause.) They had been compelled to consider thtj question, thoy must romomberj not from aii. academical point of view, but as a question that must do faced practically and promptly. Some twenty yean ago, Sir Charles Dflko. in his . "Problem* of Greater,Britain',' had: written; "The dan* ger in our path is tout tho enormous forces of Europoan militarism may crush..tho; Old Country, and destroy tho integrity of our Empire, boforo .tho growth ,of the nower communities that ; it contains has made it too strong for attack.'' In closing, the author said : "The result of this, fltirvey vof Imperial defence, is to bring before the mind' a clearer imafeis of the stupendous, ( potential strehgtli of the British Empire, and of an equally stupendous carelessness. in . organising its. forced." That obvious truth; his Exccflenoy continued, Still faced themi and tha* organisation ,bf the Empire's -defenee sciil remained unmado. Recent events in Etlropo ill connection with the increase of ( naval armaments should prove a blessing ih disguise 'to the British, Empire, in that it had brought about, a conferehco; that his Excelcellenoy believed would proV« to>bo thotoost valuable 'colonial».ooftfereiu»; over.! held,' if tliore was still, the true spirit of unity and real readiness, for self-sitcriliee existing ini • the' Empire to-day. .'(Applause.)' .'ftlat spirit existed, he believed. On the. occasion' of this Empire celebration, he thought they could oppress their l confidence that' it' existed, and : was' steadily • mowing. l ' Canada was showing signs that she was prepared to do her part in the affairs of the Australia;: particularly now that l there was prospect of a strong Government" for Bome time, spoke with more confidence.;. South Africa was.-on the jibint of becoming united,'' and, - as for New Zealand); wor3s failed hiin to wtpresfc his pride; in/ hnd respect for, hot' deiiro tft take a tttte part' in tho defono®' of the Empiro. , (Continued applause.) . H» Excellency concluded.', by expressing", his thanks to Canterbury College for the honotif of presiding over the. gathering.