BRITISH EMPIRE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 December 1924, Page 7

BRITISH EMPIRE.

SPEECH BY MR 1 . J. H. THOMAS. Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., was present at a dinner at the Hotel Cecil in London in honour of General Sir Charles Fergusson, the new GovernorGeneral of New Zealand, and Lady Alice Fergusson, given by the High Commissioner of New Zealand. Sir James Allen presided. Mr. Thomas, who proposed “The Dominion'Of New Zealand,” said that he believed that we must send to our Dominions the best that our country possessed. This great Commonwealth of nations must- never be encouraged to. ioel that in the selection of the King’s representatives mere party or class considerations Avere ever considered. That uas not only a Avise policy. but it Avas the only poliev to pursue. “We have just passed through an election.” Mr. Thomas said, “and re-1 reived the verdict of the country. T am essentially a democrat. J believe in democracA’. and, bellowing in it. T have not only been a champion of it, but 1. belie\ r e the great British CommonAA’ealth has a Constitution not onbv to he presented, hut to he defended at all cost.” He added that he read of some expression of satisfaction in the Dominions at the defeat of the Government. Tf there Avas one thing that the Dominions resented it avhs being accused of any party bias. The foolish, blind people Avho did not understand that were the real enemies and the danger to the British Common wealth. Whatever the differences might be. wliateA'er the party divisions. AvhateA*er the SAving of the political pendulum might be, we must a Prays keep clearlv in mind that every. party in the State and every party in every State in the great Commomvealth of nations Avas committed, and must he committed, and AVoukl at all times, he hoped, desire that, their aim. their object, and their ideal should not he to AA’eaken. hut to stvenerthen the great Commonwealth of which we were all proud.