The Hawera Star. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1924. EMPIRE UNITY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 November 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1924. EMPIRE UNITY.

Delivered every evening by 5 o’cloc-fc in Hawera Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, . Eltharn. . ; Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake. Otakelio, Manutahi, , Alton, Hurleyville, Pa tea, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

To win. a- mighty Empire by brave and noble deeds was the task of the great men of Britain in centuries gone past; to organise, develop and unite in the closest bonds the Empire won . is the task of Britons of to,-day. How is that task to be successfully accomplished and what, part can the humble unit in the mighty fabric take in the work? One need not have lived to a great age to remember challenges which have been issued by enemies of the Empire, the greatest, of being that by Germany and her associates in 1914. That challenge had to be accepted, because Germany’s plans for world dominion were aimed directly at the great principles upon which the British Empire had been built and for which it stood.. The challenge had not long been issued before, an overwhelming majority of British people realised clearly their duty, and throughout the whole Empire there was manifested a wonderful desire to serve the nation, whatever sacrifice was involved. Erom every part of the Empire men arose, prepared to accept Germany’s challenge and the result was that after long and strenuous efforts the cause of Freedom and Justice "was triumphant. Many people thought that when Germany was beaten the British Empire had no further need to fear, but those who have followed the course of events since 1918 cannot have failed to realise that the nation has by no means removed its enemies by its prominent assistance to the Allies, ancl we believe that the dangers are not nearly ended. There are enemies within the gate, people who are constantly active in trying to undermine the Constitution. Their efforts are mainly directed towards creating discontent, divisions among the people, and unrest. Their desire is to bring about a revolution and abolish the present system of government. In the last year or two less is heard of these enemies, but it would be very unwise to think that because they are less noisy they have ceased their activities or that they .are less ambitious to effect their evil plans. Among the methods of these enemies is their constant agitation against the Empire providing itself with adequate defences, and the unreasonable cry that an adequate defence policy would prove an incentive to other nations to make warlike preparations. Against such enemies it is difficult to provide safeguards unless individuals, loyal to the Empire and its Constitution, strongly resist these activities. Each British citizen is a unit in the vast and complex organisation which we call the British Empire.

The more complete the unity among the citizens the stronger will be the Empire, but the greater the discontent, divisions and unrest among the units the more difficult must it be for the Empire to keep strong and prosper. Empire unity is a question of the highest importance to the individual, and we hope that the failure of revolutionary theorists and so-called idealists in those places where their methods have been tried will impress upon ail true British citizens the need for resisting the evil influences and for maintaining unity in each part of the Empire and among the whole.