EMPIRE DEVELOPMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1939, Page 8

EMPIRE DEVELOPMENT

CONTINUATION OF POLICY [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, December 9. It is encouraging to see that the war has not interrupted the carrying out of the policy of the Colonial Empire Marketing Board, which has just published a popular study of “one of the greatest and, on the whole, most hopeful enterprises of the twentieth century—th e development of vast unworked territories under the leadership of Great Britain.” Publication of this volume marks the completion of one of the earliest projects of the Colonial Empire Marketing Board. This study is chiefly concerned to familiarise the British citizen with Britain’s immense colonial empire, comprising some sixty million souls; and extending over 2,300,000 square miles. The magnificent response in money and material which the inhabitants of this empire have voluntarily subscribed to the Mother Country in the time of her need, and which has been so warmly appreciated here, will give to the British citizen an added interest better to acquaint himself with the activities, prospects and conditions of his fellow, but remoter British subjects.

GIFTS FROM EMPIRE.

RUGBY, December 9.

In Basra, the port of Iraq, prominent members, of the small British community have started a war fund. A first cheque for £4OO has been sent to the British Ambassador in Bagdad with a suggestion that it should be forwarded to the King to dispose of as he thinks best.

A gift of £24 has been received from a small African tribe in the Matobo district, near Buluwayo, Southern Rhodesia. The money is “to assist in the war against Germany and is to be put to whatever use the King may think fit.” The tribe is governed "by one of the most progressive native rulers in the district. The chief was awarded the Coronation Medal for his services to his people. From Cyprus it is reported that, crowds of young men are still besieging the recruiting offices, eager to offer their services in the fight against, dictatorship. The fund inaugurated among all classes in Cyprus, to help the British Red Cross Society, has already exceeded £5OOO. In a small colony with a. total population of about 370,000 such a generous response provides striking testimony of the enthusiasm of the Cypriots, for the British cause.