PACIFIC EMPIRE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 29 January 1927, Page 5

PACIFIC EMPIRE

FIJI AS THE CENTRE.

MR BRUCE’S VISION EVOLUTION OF THE COLONIES. 6 * cable-press association— cop i Riom SUVA, Jan. 28. The Rt. Hon. S. ivx. i>i uce was the guest oi the governor, Sir Eyre Hutoon, tins morning .ana suoaequ-enLo oj. the Mayor, Mr. Marks, at a civic reception. iOpeaiang at the latter, Mr. Bruce reviewed me position or tii-e Empire us a result of the imperial Conie.ence. ira .said that the status of the iselfgovermng Dominions was now clearly uenned. 'line principle ot lull partnei:>mp and joint responsibility had tv, dennitely established. This was not without its significance to what he termed the dependent colonies of the Empire. The path of their national evolution was clearly blazed. Australia and other Dominions had been where Fiji and the other colonies now where. What the former had become was possible to all. The process, in his opinion, would not be as slow as one was apt to think, particularly a-> far as the Pacific Islands were concerned. The rapid growth of the larger Pacific countries and expanding trade would increase the international importance of this great ocean and would accelerate development to an enormous extent. All would advance together, and the time would undoubtedly come when Fiji would be the centre of an important Pacific Island empire, stretching .across the ocean and banded together by common interests enjoying the fullest rights of independent .self-Government and partnership in the larger British empire. It was a great thing to have faith in. one’s own country, and to know that her progress was definitely assured. It wji.s an even greater thing to belong to an empire which would ensure that development in peace and .safety, granting new freedom and greater status with every progressive step.