THE IMPERIAL IDEA.

Evening Star, Issue 14965, 27 August 1912, Page 3

THE IMPERIAL IDEA.

ADDRESS BY THE GOVERNOR. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Wellington Overseas Club last night, His Excellency the Governor said that if he were asked to say how a closer organic unity under the "imperial flag could be secured ho would answer that the first essential was regular and accurate information regarding the component parts of the Empire, It became rnoro necessary every day that the citizens of every part of the Empire should thoroughly understand the interests affecting other parts, and also the whole. There was such a diversity of conditions within the Empire that it "erected an obstacle to closer unity which was not present in, say, the German Empire or the United States. There appeared to be an absence of appreciation of the'extent to which each part of the Empire depended upon the whole. This was, to a certain extent, accentuated by pride of the possession of a free and independent nationality and constitution ; but ware the interested of common concern to the whole Empire to be regarded as of merely secondary importance? He did not think thev ■n'cre. Such questions as military and naval defence were of great urgency to every several part of the Empire; and this being so, was it not of the most supreme importance that exact information upon all such matters should be made available to evpry citizen? Wide aind diverse in interests as the Empire was, it was really one single organisation, whose health as a whole depended upon the health of each of its parts. In this direction the Overseas Club could render most valuable fc-er-\ice io iho Empire in the future by developing machinery for securing the. information desired. " With that information would come hji increased interest-, ano. after an increased interest a warm and glowing enthusiasm for the great traditions of the Bmish Empire. The Hon. H. D. 801 l said that New Zealand derived her strength snd freedom from the Emnire, and r-o had. to a certain extent, a selfish interest in the continuance of the existing association. It was difficult to see what could part Britain and her Dominions," but he could see a great reed for every man and woman to keep the association now existing complete amd unbroken. > The Hen. A. I*. Herdman said it was never more necessary for the people of the various parts of the Empire to be thoroughly prepared for a struggle. _ not only in the commercial arena, but in a much more serious way.