N.Z.-AN OUTPOST OF EMPIRE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 82, 5 April 1924, Page 9

N.Z.-AN OUTPOST OF EMPIRE

SIR J. ALLEN AT BRISTOL

SETTLEMENT OF PUBLIC

SCHOOLBOYS.

fFROJI OUIt OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 19th February

Sir James Allen went down to ,Bristol to read a paper last night before the local branch of the Royal Colonial Institute. His subject was : "New Zealand, An Outpost of Empire." Sir James was accompanied by Mr. H. T. B. Drew, who looked after the slides which were used to illustrate the lecture.

I The High Commissioner welcomed the. opportunity to speak at Bristol because of his own associations with, the college at Clifton, and because in that school, 'during its sixty-two, years of existence, so many established a high character and purpose* which remained with them as they spread throughout the world, and, lit gave them a-breadth of vision and mind which had left a lasting impression in the 'lands in which they made their homes, and had earned for them the title "Builders of Empire." He preferred to use the word "Empire," because the term '' CommonwealthNrf British Nations" did not accurately describe the status of the Dominions at the present time. It was true that a great change had taken place in recent years in the relationship between the Dominions anc- the Mother Country; but it was not accurate to say that the change had been such as to create nationalities, each with' full executive powers, the exercise of which by the individual might compromise the whole. For instance, it still remained for the Mother Country, .without any serious questioning from tlie Dominions, to act in the matter of foreign. relations, and her actions would be in the interests of. the whole .as ..defined by candid expression of opinion in Empire Conferences, at which all Dominions were represented, or by consultations from time to time as necessity arose. Every one of the Empire's citizens might be' Congratulated on the fact that the British Constitution was unwritten- and elastic, and was thus capable of responding to new conditions as they arose; every one was happy under the Crown: under'the representative institutions which provided for government; arid every one should/be satisfied that conference and consultations, developed as one hoped they might-Dc, satisfied the present needs; Ties of Empire value included the Royal Colonial Institute, the Imperial War' Graves Commission, and the Imperial Institute. | Though the Imperial Institute was lacking in the driving power possessed by the Imperial. War Graves Commission, owing to'its Empire Constitution, it yet was an institution of great service to the United Kingdom, the Dominions, and . Colonies, and it was valuable, too, ■ for the ' educational advantages it provides t oall sections of the. public as to the vastness and richness of the Empire; ..-•'■

Interesting facts and figures were given as tc- the productivity of the D6min T ion, which purchased some 80 per cent, of its imports from British countries, chiefly'"from Great Britain itself.

i MIGRATION.

Sir James mentioned that with the aid ofv the Overseas -■ Settlement ■ Department a generous scheme of assistance to migrants was in operation. Much valuahle and statesmanlike work in the initiation of the scheme had been done by Mr. L. S. Amery. The policy of New Zealand was to absorb 10,000 each year. '■■ . ■ ■ . „

- "Whether this : number can be in-creased-will depend to a great extent upon what may be done at this end," said the lecturer. "Those we receive, if they are to be of' value to us, must become producers, and a market must tie available for what they produce. What we do not need in New Zealand must be sent overseas It seems right, and it is our, desire that whatever we may have to send should come to.: the Mother Country and not go to foreign lands. If, then, you wish us to take more of your people, it is for you to encourage in every way the-use of New Zealand produce, and to preserve our producers as far as you can from unjust foreign competition, .. ■ i . ..:

"Two recent developments may be of interest to you. One is a 'New Zealand Government scheme for the absorption of a certain number of public schoolboys, who will be placed under the care of the Government and the executive of the Farmers' Union, arid who, later on, it is hoped, will become successful settlers on the land. It was my pleasure only a few days ago to see the first contingent off, a"nd I wish them every success. The other in the outcome of the generosity of the New Zealand sheep farmers, ! who, out ■, of wool profits made during the war, sUiLcribed nearly £200,000 to assist the dependants of the men of the Royal Nayy1 and Mercantile Marine -who lost their lives, or were seriously disabled, during the war. About £30,000 has been remitted to London to relieve the immediate distress-of dependants alluded to above. This sum of money has been administered by a committo, over whicn1! have the honour to preside, and it has been a great satisfaction' to the members of the committee to realise that by the generosity . of' New ; Zealand sheep owners,. many have had their troubles made more easy to bear. ,The balance of the money has been used to purchase a farm of 6000 acres in New Zealand, and to make provision for the carrying out of an excellent scheme under which public and secondary schoolboys, whose fathers (whether of the Eoyal Navy or Mercantile Marine) were lost "during the War, may. be sent to New Zealand. These lads'will be equipped out of the fund, and by reason of the far sighted policy of the Overseas Settlement Department, in conjunction with the New Zealand Government, they will be sent free of cost. On arrival in New Zealand they will come under the care, of, the executive committee there, will, be' sent to the farm-for six month's' training, and subsequently will be indentured for three years to selected New Zealand farmers." In view of New Zealand's administration extending over lands wide spread in the Pacific, reaching in the north to the Island of Penrhyn less than 9 degrees from the Equator, and extending south to the South Pole, Sir James included in the lantern slides a number of very interesting pictures lent him by Captain E. E. Mills Joyce,.who went South with Captain Scott as well as with Sir Ernest Shackleton. ■' /

At the conclusion of the lecture . a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Sir James. Mr. T. H. Davies, who.presided, said that the New Zealanders who came here during the war to fight for the Empire were excellent 'ambassadors for their country, for they created a most favourable impression. They made us feel that the more we knew ibout/ them the better we should like thorn.. ■ . .