Mr. Holland Does Not Like Dropping The Word “British”

Grey River Argus, 28 October 1948, Page 12

Mr. Holland Does Not Like Dropping The Word “British”

WELLINGTON, Oct 1 27. “Just when Britain wants the loyaltv and co-operation of her Empire most, she sees the process of breaking away going on, and for these reasons, I greatly regret and deplore the dropping of the word ‘British,’ which means so much to me and millions of other loyal Brit s people throughout the world,’’ said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, in a statement, to-day. He made an emphatic protest against the use of the word ‘Commonwealth’ in the official communiques issued after the Prime Ministers’ Conference, instead of ‘‘British Commonwealth.” ’ Mr Holland said he could not be blind to the fact that there was a strong tendency towards the breaking up of the mEpire and dividing it into small independent separate nations ,even to calling parts of the Empire Republics, instead of Dominions.

“One has only to think about the recent happenings in India, Palestme Egypt, Burma, South Africa and Eire to realise the extent to which the process is going ahead,” said Mr Flolland. “I say frankly that I denlnore the present trends from Vne bottom of my heart. In oui’ own Parliament, we have even heard it said that a member rejoiced in the liquidation of the British Empire. “TRUE BLUE” BRITISH “I may be only one person, out I know where I stand, and that is true blue for a solid, loyal, united British Empire with the Dominions free to manage their own affairs, yet bound by the ties of blood, tradition, history, trade and language. I am all against dropping the word ‘British,’ and' for my part, I retuse to dron it.” ‘T Wholly welcome the promotion in . status of our High Commissioners,” said Mr Holland in a further statement, in which he referred to reports that the Hi eh Commissioners had been raised to ambassadorial status. “As a self-governing Dominion of the British Empire, it is right and proper that our representatives should be given .a status and dignity which will enable them to take then place as equal partners with other parts of the Empire and with the representatives of other countries. I think the step is entirely in the right direction.”