FOREIGN BRITISHERS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 January 1925, Page 12

FOREIGN BRITISHERS

A DANGEROUS ELEMENT. The foreign element in the British nation was torced so prominently under the notice of the Hon.- G. J. Smith, during his visit to the Old Country, chat he believes its elimination is liecessary to the Empire’s weli-being (says the Lyttelton Times). ‘ As a result of the general election in the Old Country, there certainly is greater confidence, and business generally has improved,” lie said. “Foreign competition is still very keen. The Old Country, if she wishes to regain prewar trade, must improve her metnOds and bring her machinery up to date ; but practically all the trouble in Britain is created by foreign agitators. This must be displaced, and British trades unionism must be led by Britishers. The Labour Party has in its ranks some exceedingly good men, with all the ideals of tlie British people, and the interference of foreigners and the influence of foreign gold snoulct be resented by every welt-wisher of the Empire. The present Government nas a great opportunity, not only as tlie executive «i a party, but also as the Empire’s trustees, i believe that it will put forth a sound progressive policy tnat will be satisfactory to the country. 'Visitors are impressed with the grave difficulties to be overcome, economical, financial and foreign, but i believe that our statesmen will be equal to the task, and that, with a united effort, our Empire will continue to be the dominant factor in the world’s progress. The more I travel the more deeply 1. am convinced that the heart of the British, people is shund. If tlie foreign element were eliminated from the Old Country and from the Dominions, we would have fewer industrial troubles, and our people wouid oe infinitely better off.” As far as Mr. Smith is able to judge,' the Baldwin Government’s victory was a declaration in favour of constitutional government, as opposed to the more revolutionary ideas of the extreme section, of the yLabour Party. Just prior to tlie election lie met Mr. Baldwin bv appointment, and discussed many subjects with him. Mr. Baldwin impressed the visitor as being “a very fine type of an Englishman, a mail in whose uprightness and honesty members of all parties have absolute confidence.”