EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 May 1935, Page 7

EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATIONS

MR. FORBES’ REVIEW

DEFENCE AND MARKETING

[BY' CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, May 24.

Most of the newspapers draw attention to Empire Day and its special significance in Jubilee year. The “Morning Post” publishes interviews with the Prime Ministers. Mr Forbes says: “Imperial defence is closely linked with the Empire's future, but I can see no need for a drastic alteration of the present system. The British Government is going ahead steadily with its policy of defence. It has, in my view, done all possible in the cause of peace.”

Mr Forbes added: “The establishment of a land settlement scheme in New Zealand would merely increase the production of goods for already glutted markets. A solution of the marketing problem wculd do more to consolidate the Empire than anything else. I see no royal road to such an end, but I believe we shall find, at least, part of the way in the present talks ill London.”

AUSTRALIAN OPINION

(Recd. May 25, 8 a.m.). SYDNEY, May 24.

Addressing the Royal Empire Society. to-night, Doctor Page, ActingPrime Minister, said he was satisfied that the bulk of the meat difficulties would be overcome if representatives of the meat industry in Britain and the Dominion had fully discussed their problems, and the possibilities of profitable expansion of the industry by individual farmers of those countries. It was most desirable that representatives of key industries should meet to decide upon the fields of activity properly available to each. Rationalisation of Empire production and trade, upon an agreed plan, would prove a bed of cement, wherein all bonds of Empire could be held together and made impregnably strong. The policy which all the time was thinking entirely in terms of England, and not the Empire as a whole, was dangerously like the sentiment prevailing in the mid-Victorian era, which regarded the overseas possessions not as an asset but a liability. —

AUCKLAND SPEECHES

AUCKLAND, May 25.

The great achievement of Queen Victoria and her statesmen, in forming and consolidating the British Empire, as we know it to-day, was the subject c.hoseu by Lord Galway in his speech at the Empire Day dinner, held in Auckland, to-night. 1 His Excellencj' s;iid that after 64 years of a reign that constituted itself an epoch, the Queen passed away early in the present century. So much had happened since then, that we*'were apt to forget what we owed to-the Queen and her statesmen, who founded and built it up and established ideals we stood by to-day. ”1 think it is only right that to-day we should remember the personality of the Great QueenEmpress,” he concluded. Speaking at the same function, Capt. Hon. E. R. Drummond, Commodore commanding New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy dealt with the object of the Royal Navy in peace time. “Our navy on which under the good providence of God, the wealth, safety and strength of the Empire chiefly depends,—to quote from Naval Discipline Act of 1566, has been reduced to what I suggest is definitely below requirements of Empire safety. That is a fact with which I am sure you are all in complete agreement.”

WELLINGTON GATHERING

WELLINGTON, May 24.

In celebration of Empire Day, a reception was held, to-night by the Royal Empire Society, Overseas League, Navy, Victoria League and the English Speaking Union. Mr. L. O. H. Tripp presided over a large attendance, and addresses were delivered by Hon. W. Perry and the Acting-Prime • Minister, Mr. Ransom.