PROUD OF EMPIRE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1924, Page 7

PROUD OF EMPIRE

NEW COLONIAL SECRETARY

LABOUR WILL DO -ITS DUTY.

(SYDNEY SDN CABLE.)

; LONDON, 28th January. Mr. J. H. Thomas, Secretary qf State for the Colonies, in a speech following the Prince of Waies's at the Australia Day luncheon, explained that he had ""u 0!** 1!?- i°* cp ;vith Pl'--I*-* remembering that he had commenced life as errand bpy at the age of nine. --.■■■■ He felt gratitude that he was' a' memW* of *> natiop whose constitution enabled an engine-cleaner of yesterday to be a Minister to-day. That constitution was broad, wide, and democratic, and must be preserved, and the Empire providing it must be maintained. ' ' ' Mr. Thomas convulsed the audience

with a' stoj-.y of his introduction to the Colonial Office. He asked the porter: "Is .this the Colonial Office?" Tlie porter replied: "Yes, whom do you want to see?" Mr. Thomas: "I want to see the office." The porter: "Well, this is it. Whom dp ypu want to see?". .- Air. Thomas:' "I want to see the"' office." ' The porter (__p.i_e_.tly)-: "But whom?" Mr. Thomas, thinking that the time' had come to reveal his identity, _a£d :' "I am the new Colonial .ecretary." The porter looked liim up ai*,d down, tin-lied ±o a companion, yanked, '__4 rer marked : "Another shell-shocked -patient." y PATRIOTISM NO MONOPOLY z Mr. Thomas confessed - ; tliat .after liye d-iys ill office he was -prouder .of -the Empire th?u ever -before. Britain had through a revolution wherein ink, not .blood, had heen spilt. There had j been a great change without any die- i turbance'or upheaval. Tr-jde,' commerce, i and finance were progressing as tlioiigh nothing happened. There .-w„_e ■ many '.who were apjn-eliensiye abpnt' the l .change. The least apprehensive Vas* %c Prii-ce. of Wales .and his illustrious' anil .distinguished father, -because ,they' .were ; the most .wise. They knew' their people, ! recognising the fact tliat-Piiti-iotism','lov.e j ■pf.^PJre. service, and $uty wa,s not a i gilt .or monopoly of pup .class or creed. ! The King and Prince recognis-ed'' that \ men born in ■humble circumstance^ i \Wj.thoii.t the adyan.t;*.ge*i of' a. Varsity j education or real learning, possessed '.si 1 cerise .of duty and patriotism .unsurpass-; e4 ky j"iy .other type. 'The Empi'i-e was j defended hi the dark days ,of the war! by the men of the slums as -well as pi , tji,p palace, hqth i*ecognising their co.nji- ! nion obligations.: 'A)} se.cf.ions",could fee; jkriisted .to do th.c right .thing a-t any giy- j en moment, j Tha,t y*a_ why, despite .the^- great change in .the Old Country, the *.©ld wouhi still progress. He paid a I .tribute to tjhe Lf-ke .of pey.onsh.jre, who did, his .damnedest to unseat' him, an<". ! had ueyerth.ele&s pla;ce<j a.t -hi-* (Mr. i Thomas's) disposal his great services' arijl cxpei^euce. Keferring to the anniversary he hop<e.d thai their successor's, -J. 36 years: hence, w.ou^d -fee ahje to say that Labour .dis nothing, as pioneers Ao weaken the Empire of-which all wei-e so proud. "The Duke .pf _>.ey*Pj_fhi.i« said thati if-j he apd hi? colleagyes criticised th,e .Gov- j eminent, it .was .only because they .were anxious to arrive .at* th.c be"st possiblesolution. They were prepared to use ey.ery possible effort for the •farther development and prosperity of the Empire.