IMPERIAL PROBLEMS EMIGRATION AND FINANCE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 71, 25 March 1914, Page 10

IMPERIAL PROBLEMS EMIGRATION AND FINANCE

SPEECH BY HON. T MACKENZIE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON. 6th February. The High Commissioner for Now Zealand was entertained to dinner by the Anglo-Saxon Club, at the Hotel Cecil, on Wednesday evening, when Lord Plunket presided ovpr a good attendance, including Lord Sydenham, Sir R. Baden-Powell, Sir Charles Lucas, Sir T. A. Coghlan, Sir John jM'Call, Colonel Siv J. S. Young, Mr. J. 11. Mackenzie, and Mr. Malcolm Jloss. In proposing the health of their guest, Lord Plunket said it gave him great pleasure in doing so because he had known Mr. Mackenzie fairJy intimately for ten years. New Zeaanld's Migl'i Commissioner was a modest and unassuming gentleman. Perhaps, when they recollected that his name soundad Scotch they might think that it was hardly a right definition of a Scotsman; and when they remembered that, it was made by an Irishman prone to odd statements and exaggerations, they might think still more on the matter. It was, however, an absolute fact, though a possible reason was because the High Commissioned only had the good fortune of living in his native country as a Scot-sman for four years. He then came out to New Zealand, where, as a half New Zealander himself, he could assure them everyone became absolutely peifect. (Applause.) Modest and unassuming, Mr. Mackenzie undoubtedly was, but he had absolutely no reason to be so, tor in the great Dominion of New Zealand he had had a distinguished career that all might honour and envy. (Applause.) Mr. Mackenzie had been the most successful Parliamentary candidate in the Dominion. He had lepresented at different times five constituencies, and had never been defeated. In educational, charitable, municipal work, and the like he had taken as prominent a part as anyone in that country. He had filled many Cabinet positions and at, all times had done exceeding well. If^one were to ask t Mr. Mackenzie what in his heart he considered the best claim for his country's regard he would answer his work for the farmers of New Zea* land and the trade of tho Dominion generally. He (the speaker) would remind them that Mr. Mackenzie successfully forecasted the future of frozen ,meat and wool at a time when grave doubts were expressed about the farmer's prospects For a country which depended so much upon agriculture they could not find a better man to send Home to represpnt New Zealand lhan a man who knew the wants and requirements of the, trade and commerce of the Dominion so well as Mr. Mackenzie. He was also a sportsman, and one of the finest explorers and climbers in New Zealand, and in that connection he was pleased to offer a welcome to another well-known New Zealander — Mr. Malcolm Ross — who had climbed nearly every mountain there was to climb in New Zealand. (Applause.) PROMOTING PATRIOTISM. The toast having been accorded mußical honours, the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie thanked the members for their markedly cordial welcome. New Zealand, he said, had been blessed by the high class of men "'ho had represented the Crown in that far-distant country, and no man more deservedly occupied that hic^h position than did their Chairman, who left behind him a memory which stood endear-ed-to the heart of the people, and whose good works would be long remembered. (Applause.) In order to make New Zealand successful, not only had they to place their people on the land under such conditions a-s would afford a comfortable living, but also they had to discover markets to which they could send their produce. Consequently, come fifteen years ago he resigned his position in the New Zealand Parliament and came Home in order that he might study the handling of produce on the London market. By reason of that practical experience he had been able to advise their farmers on the lines of action which he thought it best for them to take. He looked back upon his long public career with great satisfaction, and he felt that something had been done to help on that beautiful country with which, he was connected. (Applause.) He noticed that the first object of the club was to promote iiatriotism. That he took to be comparatively easy, inasmuch as the vast majority of the people who owned the sway of tha King were patriotic in every fibre. He confessed that at times New Zealanders, in their patriotism, were disposed to regard the attacks of the Little Englanders as trying. They were working out their .destiny. In connection with New Zealand finance and its defence policy, it was extremely annoyiin; to find that men who had no concern whatever with New Zealand were continually falsifying its financia' position and giving utterance to slanderous statements regarding the work that their country was carrying out. Happily, one of the members of Parliament who had 'recently returned from tho Empire tour stated that he had not met with a "croaker" during the four months over which his visit to Australasia had extended. It remained for the people on this side to "croak." What wae required was to weld that patriotism into an effective fbrce. ' THE EMIGRATION PROBLEM. Another object of the club was to discuss questions of national and Imperial importance, and this was especially necessary at the present time. In his opinion emigration and finance cam© under that head. "At the present time,"' said. Mr. Mackenzie, "we are all working in different ways and with no perfect system of emigration. Emigration must be independently dealt with, and is, in my opinion, a question for an Imperial authority in a Council which should include, of course, representatives of the Home Country and of the overseas dominions. So long as we have dominions to people and there are surplus Britons available, the system should concentrate on our own possessions. But what is lacking at tliis end is a proper systematisation of training and emigration. Without elaborating the scheme one has in one's mind, I might say that all children who are now considered neglected should be taken in hand by the State and instructed in useful occupations in order to meet the requirements of the overseas possessions — especially should agriculture and domestic work be taught, so that when they go abroad, where there is abundance of land, they may become useful citizens. "As to the question of finance, 'I read in to-day's Times that a banker of authority had stated that the overseas dominions should borrow Jpss and spend less. With all due deference to the deliverer of that opinion, lip entirely lacks a, proper perspective of Imperial necessity. If Britain's possessions are to be maintained, it is essential that her spare spaces should be filled with people of our own race, if possible. To do that the country must be opened up by rail and road, and other essentials must be provided. So long as we have vast empty spaces, ao • long will these countries constitute a weakness 'in our Empire. It is as necessary to people in Australia as it is to maintain effective defenses at .Gibraltar or Malta } and it

is therefore necessary to borrow judiciously and to spend wisely to bring this about. There must also soon be devised i\ new method for dealing with loans required b\ the overseas peoples "