Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER. 8, 1923. A NEGLECTED DUTY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 November 1923, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER. 8, 1923. A NEGLECTED DUTY.

Much practice and certain natural qualities arc combining to make tlie Prince of Wales one of the most interesting public speakers in the Empire, and he Rarely attends an important function without something of value to say, and, what is more, something for those addressed to meditate upon. Doubtless, some of Ids information is “supplied,” but his speeches

are always marked with a characteristic note, and he does not say x only the things his audiences are gratified to hear. In his comments at the Overseas League’s luncheon to the Dominion Premiers, the Prince urged the advisability of Homeland public men visiting the other parts of the Empire, about which they talk so much, and with which they have so much to do. It is strange in these days of quick transit, that trips to the overseas Dominions are not made more frequently by Homeland administrators. To many, Australia, New Zealand and other lands are not much more than geographical terms, and this ignorance is lamentable, and might easily lead to grave errors. It should be part of a public man’s qualifications that he should have travelled extensively, as without such first--hand experience, he cannot hope to be. ablsto discuss or understand overseas special problems. Such visits should not be made with view to being made a fuss of on arrival, or of carrying out a self , imposed mission to right wrongs', I but quietly and with a. sense of responsibility, accompanied by an eagerness to learn all that is pos-

siblc. A traveller with these ideals could not help but returning Home with valuable knowledge, which could be used most profitably later. A glance through the names of the present Imperial Ministry would find few who have strayed south of the Equator, and some have never been further away from Britain (han neighbouring France or Italy. A typical example of this restricted tra-vel-experience was that of no less a person than Mr. Lloyd George, who until his recent tour, had never set foot on Canadian territory, nor on United States soil. Lord Robert Cecil, too, the main prop of the League of Nations, also recently paid his first visit to America, and these are t wo men who have filled positions requiring the fullest knowledge of the outside world. Travel is always educational, and modern conditions

make it imperative that public leaders should take a course in this special study. Books and maps alone cannot give the information essential for the proper equipment of administrators. In earlier generations a Continental tour was undertaken as a matter of course by the aristocracy, and that old system should now be developed on more comprehensive and democratic lines. Aerial enterprise is making world tours less timetaking, and in a few years it will be possible to get to New Zealand from London and return,. in less time than it takes to make the outward journey now, and probably then, visits by Cabinet Ministers and other leaders will be less few and far between. But there is no need to wait for aerial journeys. To-day’s problems, especially of the Empire, need solving to-day, and travel is one of the best means of reaching such solution. Invitations to visit overseas have been freely extended by Dominion Premiers, to the Homeland Ministers, mainly on hospitable grounds. The time lias come when the duty of paying such visits should be more emphasised. ,