LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 252, 22 July 1935, Page 9

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

British Ministers and Dominions

LORD BLEDISLOE’S VIEW London, July 19. “I endorse Mr. Forbes’s regret at flic British Cabinet Ministers’ lack of personal knowledge of the Dominions. and their ignorance is no more marked than concerning New Zealand,” said Lord Bledisloe. speaking al the Empire Society’s summer school. Yet the Empire’s future rested predominantly in their hands. If their knowledge was second-hand and scanty, the- British proletariat and the House of Commons were still more ignorant, seriously threatening ultimate Dominions separation. Lord Bledisloe paid a tribute to New Zealand as a country, peopled by Nature’s gentlefolk, which was socially and almost ideally democratic. Tim average standard of education was very high, and the reading of newspapers and books was wider spread than elsewhere in the Empire. Even the poorest people were ger rally well informed of the nation’s and the world's affairs. Courtesy and good manners were universal, there was very little swearing ami drunkenness, and shabbily-dressed people were seldom seen.

Speaking in England before his departure on July 1 for New Zealand, Mr. Forbes said New Zealanders felt that an understanding of the Dominion’s problems would be much greater if a responsible Cabinet Minister visited the Dominion. “I hope that my suggestion will be able to be fulfilled after the elections.” he said.