The Hawera Star. TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1925. CANADA AND THE EMPIRE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 January 1925, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1925. CANADA AND THE EMPIRE.

Delivered every evening by D o'clock In Hawera Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Rltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuni, Opunake, Otakeho, Mauutahi, Alton, Hurley ville, Patea. Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

Bo far as the .sister Dominions are concerned, there was little need for Mr. Mackenzie King's disclaimer on behalf of Canada, in. regard to renewed reports of separatist activity. For that matter, leading British newspapers of recent date convey no suggestion of noticeable uneasiness at Home, and we imagine that- the Canadian. Prime Minister bias over-estimated any feeling there may be. However, it is easy to appreciate Mr. King’s concern. 11, for instance, the idea were current in Britain that New Zealand was moving towards a. declaration of independence, wo in this country would not- feei happy until we had squashed the rumour utterly. But our own position is materially different from that of Canada; and it is desirable that- we should seek a proper understanding of her special difficulties. To begin with, Canada is not built on the purely Brit-. ' ish foundation that we are; apart altogether from the strong. French element in Quebec and other of the Eastern Provinces, there are sprinklings of almost every nationality from Europe right through the Canadian population. That is one of t-he penalties Canada pays —or one of the advantages she reaps, according to some — in consequence o-f her comparative nearness to„ the Old World. These foreigners come, some singly, some in family parties, some in- whole colonies, bringing often their customs, and sometimes their language and, school systems, with them to the new home. The problem that Canada faces in respect of such people is one wholly unknown to this Dominion. Every month we have new settlers coming amongst ns, whose attitude to and outlook upon, life is perhaps new to some of us; but these folk are of our own blood, their ideals are our ideals, and we glory in -a common heritage. Any differences have are not likely to be more vital than conflicting opinions -as to whether Maurice Brownlie or Wakefield is the better forward, ■ Mailey or Tate the more effective howler. In the course of time these newcomers, Britishers always, become acclimatised colonials and are one with us. What- Canada, is called upon to do with, many of her immigrants is to make of them not merely Canadians, but Canadian Britishers. Often that means little short, of a,’ revolutionary cljange in. a man’s mind. Some of these people who come to begin a newlife in. the West have left behind them the young republics of Europe, especially those that now line the Baltic sea-front. An hereditary monarchy suggests to many of them Russia under the Czars, in* maybe the petty princes of last generation, in Central Europe; it is no-easy task to win them over to the point of view of the average Britisher, who believes that he enjoys a greater freedom than the subjects of any other nation, and that the supreme bulwark of that freedom lies in the throne, and the sovereign whom lie reverences. To many foreigners this attitude is the acme of inconsistency, and it is only very slowly that they can he absorbed into fho full '.stream of Canadian citizenship. Then there is the second difficulty which confronts our sister .Dominion the presence across her border of the great American nation. Anyone who pauses for a moment to consider how New Zealand is over-run by American magazines and films, American, motorcars .and breakfast foods, can understand. the pull which the Republic to the south must exert over Canada. One element in the British territory always has been .steadfastly deaf to any advances from the- States—the descendants of the United Empire loyalists, those patriots who stood by the British cause right through the War of American Independence, and at its conclusion were hounded out of

their old homes, to find a refuge under the Union Jack on Canadian soil. But Canada to-day is peopled largely by those whose fathers knew not the old bitterness, and, despite the tie of sentiment, despite the fine lecord of British rule in the Dominion, there can be no denying that the geographical factor is operating powerfully to throw the two nations of North America more and more together. Taranaki will always , have closer dealings with Wellington than with New South Wales, and, while the position is hardly analogous, the dilemma in which Canadian statesmen are liable to find themselves is apparent in that comparison. So- long as Canada remains solid within herself, and so long as Britain and the United States are on terms of the closest friendship, it is most unlikely that there will be any shifting of allegiance. And, in fairness to our American cousins, .it has to he added that they have never brought any official pressure to bear on Canada. All the same, commerce is now so powerful an agent in shaping destiny that the political future of Canada, cannot be taken a<s definitely fixed. Mr. Mackenzie King is right in protesting against the resurrection of a rumour that has, as yet, no foundation in fac-t; hut students of imperial affairs would he foolish to close their eyes to the admitted possibilities of the situation.