EMPIRE DAY APPEAL

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 24 May 1932, Page 4

EMPIRE DAY APPEAL

CONSTRUCTING VALUES ANEW MEETING CHANGED CONDITIONS THEESHOLD OF NEW ERA. PBIME MINISTER’S AIESSAGE. (By Telegraph—Tress Association.) WELLINGTON, May 23. “At a time when closer co-operation in tne ordering of the economic life of the British Common wealtn is recognised as being of the greatest importance the observance of Empire Day must have special significance,” states ( he Prime Minister, the. Rt. Hon. G. W, Forbes, in an Empire Day message. “It is on this day that one pauses to give heed to the years of toil, foresight and initiative that have been combined in building the Empire as we of our generation know it. If it is not to be regarded as an empty symbol the day must mark a definite occasion. It must be used for one thing to construct Empire values anew. It must serve as a milestone at which we should strive to reach a truer understanding of Empire history and adjust ever-changing conditions to the new order of things. “To-day the nations of the British Commonwealth are on the threshold of what many hope will be a new era. The Empire economic conference to be held at Ottawa may open the way for a revival of lagging trade and a period of much closer commercial relationship between the nations of the commonwealth. For the conference to succeed the peoples of the Empire must show the will to work for the common good and a determination to show that spirit of co-operation which will be implied in the letter of anv agreement that may be reached in Canada. 1 ‘ Thus on this day we must be prepared to take stock of Empire values. Overseas trade, which is the life-blood of New Zealand, cannot be built up indefinitely by any one unit of the Empire independent of the rest. Our interests are too closely knit to allow complete singleness of purpose at a time when modern life is sweeping away the old insularity and replacing it with a world wherein the repercussions of an event in London may 'be felt very definitely in .the farthest outpost ox the Empire. The day bears a special interest for us during this critical time of our history, and this interest cannot be overlooked in view of the importance that is being attached to the events .to take place during the coming months.”