The Imperial Idea.?

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2319, 25 March 1914, Page 2

The Imperial Idea.?

In an able letter just published in the Post, Mr Harold Beauchamp, Chairman of Directors of the Bank of New Zealand, comes out as a whole-hearted supporter of Earl Grey's Dominion House scheme, under which Britain Overseas officialdom" is to be housed under one roof in the heart of London. We cannot resist reiterating that the more closely the Imperial Idea is considered the more attractive it appears. AYe do not think it is the financial aspect of the scheme that is its present obstacle. It is simply because it is Something New that colonial Governments have not taken hold of it with both hands and welcomed it as a longlost brother. It is the financial side of it that Mr Beauchamp deals with in his letter, and, as becomes such an expert, he shows how the New Zealand and other Governments may easily finance the scheme. His solution is offered in four.suggestions: (1) The formation of a limited liability-company of Britain Overseas to take over the Alwyeh Site, the stock of which could be fixed at 4 per cent., there should be a currency of 50 years, and a sinking fund to meet the loan at its'maturity; (2) the liability of its shareholders to be fixed on a population basis; (3) the rents to go towards payment of interest and the guarantors; and (4) each subscribing section of the Britain Overseas to have a representative on the board of directors. Mr Beauchamp approaches the subject as "an ardent Imperialist" as well as an expert financier, and argues that a Dominion House "would do more to promott and expand the spirit of Imperialism and foster the growth 'vi inter-Imperial trade than anything j that has heretofore been suggested j by any statesman in the British Empire. The Dominion House, surrounded by buildings of great antiquity, rich in historical associations, and passed daily by millions of people on their journeys tc the north, south, east and west-of the most mighty city the world has ever seen, would prove a veritable Mecca to oversea visitors of all nationalities, colours, and creeds.'

And then, as a New Zealander, Mr Beauchamp concludes: "The Commonwealth of Australia has just voted over £60,000 in order to be represented at a temporary exhibition at Panama. Are we, I ask, going to hesitate to guarantee £8000, or, if necessary, £12,----500 per annum for all the advantages, direct and indirect, which will result to New Zealand from the scheme which Earl Grey has so prominently and ably brought under our notice? I-trust not." We also trust nob. It may be that the present visit of the creator of the Dominion House idea to Australia and New Zealand will convert colonies to the scheme. We trust so.