THE IMPERIAL SPIRIT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2500, 29 June 1915, Page 2

THE IMPERIAL SPIRIT

M.P. VOLUNTEERS ENTERTAINED BY NEW ZEALAND CLUB Messrs. W. Downie Stewart, M.P., and ex-Mayor of Dunedin, <-nd T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., who have enlisted and gone into camp at Trentliam, were tha guests of honour at the luncheon of the New Zealand Club yesterday. Tile president (Mr. W. H. Webb) occupied the chair, and thore wero also present tho Minister of Defence (the Hon. Jas. Allen), Brigadier-General Robin, (Commandant of the New Zealand Military Forces), Colonel Gibbon (Chief of the General Staff), and over one hundred members. The chairman said that it was an honour to have with them Messrs. Stewart and Seddon two young members of Parliament. Tlie principal object of tho club was to foster patriotism and the imperial spirit, and he thought they were singularly fortunate in having .at the first gathering of their new year two representative New Zealanders who had shown that patriotism and Imperial spirit in so high a degreo as to offer their services, and be content to enlist as privates, (Applause.) They were the sons of fathers whoso names were written on the scrolls of the country in letters of gold, and they would both carry out the high ideals set by their fathers. (Applause.) In addressing the members, Mr. Seddon said that he felt the dinner came at an unfortunate time. It was a sort of farewell dinner to them as soldiers, but he felt very little like a soldier that day; perhaps in three months time, after the drill sergeant had been at work, he would show some change in deportment. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Continuing, Mr. Seddon said that he could not speak as n soldier that dav, but he would say a little along the line of politics—the Imperial politics for which the club stood. _ He outlined the rise in Imperial politics, and said that although Overseas representatives had been very welcome at Home, so far they had accomplished very little. He did not say they in New Zealand should try and force soma, kind of federation, but he thought they should have some kind of a 'in, and some kind of proposal to submit. Mr. Asqilith had said that when the Overseas Dominions came to some unanimity of decision their proposals would be considered. Mr. A squish had told the Overseas representatives at the last conference that their autonomy was unfettered, but that was not legally so. Personally he thought some representations should be made so that the Empire should not rest only on silken ties, but on something firmer. They should have an Imperi.il Federation—an Imperial body with legal status, to propose and carry recommendations. When the war was over the time would be pregnant with possibilities of Imperial politics. Although they had no _ mercenary ideas in helping the Empire at this time, many recognised that things should not go along ontirely as they had in the past. Making porsoiial references, Sir. Seddon said that he was not going forward with any groat ideas of glory himself, but bccause he considered it his bounden duty to do so, and because it might help recruiting. They also hoped to attain some honour out of it. (Applause.) Mr. Stewart said that it might be inferred that he and Mr. Seddon had had no previous military experience, but he wanted them to remember that for a long time they belonged to a regiment known as "The Devil's Own." When the sergeant called out 'Charge!" to thom they responded 6s. Bd, (Laughter.) He did not desire to speak on general ideas about the war, but hold that tha effect of the war would be most momentous with regard to the question of Great Britain and the Dominions. Closer union would be one of the things wanted, for war caused men to desire _ a closer binding. It was a matter of iniredible difficulty to make legislation that would fit all parts of the EmpireSome held that the Empire and Dominions were sufficiently bound up now, but lie was perfectly convinced that as a result of the war thore would be a great step made ill elucidating this problem, which had troubled statesmen for years. Another tiling the war had shown them in this far-flung Dominion was that they could not shut themselves up behind a high social wall. They were as deeply affected by the movements and politics of the people of Europe as if they lived in the British Isles. They were not free in choosing the part they should take in world politics. They were feeling now the strain of the war, but he thought that no person with a proper perspective should long remain in an tnxious and worried state of mind as to the outlook. Those Who realised what was involved realised that this war was a conflict between two great ideas—(applause)—one 'of government by force and coercion, and the other by free democracy. (Applause.) If they kept that in mind there was no need to be worried: as to the outlook. The war would terminate in the interests of democracy, so the man who was losing most now was he who failed to realise that as the outcome of this war there would be a great advance in freedom and democracy. (Applause.) Personally he held it was a great privilege to be taking a part in this struggle. They could only look forward with coufideiic© to tli6 production of n higher, stronger, and better Empire as the result of the war, an Empire that stood for the higher prmciples of civilisation. (Loud applaus©.) A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speakers, and the luncheon concluded- with tho National Anthem.