RIGHT HON. J. BRYCE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 140, 13 June 1912, Page 8

RIGHT HON. J. BRYCE

ENTERTAINED BY NEW ZEALAND CLUB IMPERIAL POLITICS. The Eight Hon. J. Bryce, Ambassador for the British Government to the United States, was entertained al lunch at the New Zealand Club to-day. Lord Islington presided, and amongst those present were:— Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, M.P., the Hon. C. M. Luke, and many prominent men in commercial and professional circles. His Excellency»-the Governor briefly inferred to the good which could bo accomplished by euch institutions as the New Zealand Club. He also referred in eulogistic terms to the long, honoured, and valuable services which Mr. Bryce had rendered the Empire. His diplomatic and political services were not even dwarfed by hit literary work. (Applause.; Mr. Bryce replied in a. speech in which he touched upon many matters of national import in a manner which frequently evoked hearty applause from the crowded gathering. Li a, few wellchosen worda he acknowledged the heartiness of the welcome accorded him. He alluded to the striking success of the Canadian Clubs in Canada, (on which the New Zealand Club ia based). The movement has been a remarkable one. lfc had enabled. men of all political opinions to bo brought together, and had had an immense influence on tho public life of that great Dominion. Further, it had been largely responsible for fostering the spirit of Canadian nationality which was cloeely and inevitably linked with evory opportunity for strengthening Canadian attachment for the Mother Country and the advance of Imperial interests. All felt that Imperial interests were quite •above party ties. These -clubis gave one an admirable idea of the things which were greatest and which could be best dkcuesed when no party issue had been brought forward. The peoples in theno distant parts of the Empire represented (■hose on whom the destinies of the nation would 'largely rely. The British Empire had been a mighty factor in the progress of the world. Never had there been in the history of the .world an Empire founded on 6imilav principles to oure. Our Empire was a disunited one, but united, strange to say, by the sea. It was tho sea which brought Captain Cook here to make New Zealand one of tho brightest jewels hi the Empire. It was by the sea that our Dominions were held together. The sea had always been associated wilh freedom, and the British nation rested in tho crucibles of tho security ol self-government. That v/as government <in tho handa of the citizenc. In ono flense, we were not so much an Empire as an aggregation of States and nations. Wo were one in thingc whic^ bound us together, and one in our language. If these, and other things, made us one, he earnestly hoped they would keep ac one. We were ono in our opportunitiec and one in our responsibilities. He alluded to the backward nations which were under the British flag, and appealed for the upliftment of these peoples who had not yet got aelfgovernnient. It would be quite impossible for ono Government in England to deal with all the problems of self-govern-ment as 1 the proper outgrowth of ouf conditions and economic neceGsitioa. TO MAKE THE EMPIRE STRONGER. What was necessary to make the Empire stronger? Chiefly that we .should have a greater knowledge of one another. Here in New Zealand tho people wero well Berved by their press, which daily recorded, the most important happenings in, the. Old Land. Again, the days were long past when the people in England knew little about the belf-governing colonies. Ho hoped, on the other hand, tbefc no ona here would consider that his education M-as complete till he had visited tho Old Country, and in going there ha hoped all visitors would travel via Canada. He hoped the people here tried to follow Canadian affairs-. "They have much to teach you," ho said, "and you have much to teach them. You b"ot-h have much to teach us." He, touched on the Navy, and warmly congratulated New Zealand on its support of that great service. What New Zealand was doing for tho Navy ivas a source of univen-ul pride and catisfaction. Ho was not one of those who believed that the peace of the world 'was seriously threatened, but still we had to be prepared to present a united and powarlu'l front. It* was a cardinal necessity that wo had to be safe from invasion. Wo were held together by great and glorious ties and traditions handed down through many centuriec, and it was one of our highest missions to keep the peace of the M'orld. If we kept peace- it was p-lmosl a certainty •that tho rest of tho world would keep it. "Let me venture to say i:i conclusion," ho remarked, amidst loud applause, "that, what is ours is yours, and that what is yours is ours."