SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1920. SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXXI, Issue LXXXI, 15 May 1920, Page 4

SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1920. SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION.

Once again Lord Milner has shown the vital need for close co-operation between the Dominions and the Mother Country for the welfare of the Empire in. the future, and we are sure that every lover of British principles and institutions will agree with his statements. The vast extent of the British Empire taxes' not a little the imagination of those who have not travelled | and who live •in its widely scattered I parts. Before the war people in Great Britain had- but hazy idea« of several important portions of the Empire, and many of our people in the Dominions had little knowledge of what an enormous power for good the great Empire was. The presence in Great Britain of thousands of the fine troops who went to defend British ideals gave to the people of the Old Country much needed information concerning the outlying portions of the ; and the troops from the Dominions had their vision widened and they learned that citizenship of the greatest democracy in the world was something of which they had every reason to be proud. In the hardships of war the Dominions realised that British citizens are one people having principles and ideals common to all parts of the Empire. j This realisation increased the spirit of co-operation in a marvellous manner, and before the war had been waged ! many months the whole Empire was turning its full strength towards gaining victory over the Powers which had challenged it so fiercely. We all learned what an enormous strength oxir nation could develop when our existence was at stake in a bitter war. But do we realise now that the war has been won and the Empire saved that our fu-1 ture prosperity and welfare are being | challenged by other forces? Or do we think that because we have escaped from ijfie claws of the Gern>an Eagle each portion, of the Empire has nothing ' else to do than to attend to its own affairs? We do not think that, if our people gave careful thought to the Empire and its future, they would fail to realise how vital co-operation is to the nation's welfare. The ideal, of course, would be the co-operation of all sections of each British community and the co-operation of all branches of the Empire with the Mother Country. (Lord Milner's desire is to establish in Great Britain full and sufficient means for co-operation, and there appears to be no other way than to have a resident Minister in London, for the speedier handling cf affairs affecting the Dominions equally with the Mother Country. But co-operation carries with it responsibility, equal and mutual, and in the Empire's progress to a common purpose the Dominions and the Mother Country should accept their full responsibilities. In no way should one portion of the Empire seek to benefit at the expense of any other portion, and it is the duty of each Dominion in the Empiro to protect every other Dominion and the Mother Country. Conversely, it is the Mother Country's duty to protect all the members of the Great British family. We suppose that this applies mostly to commerce at the present time, and all parts of the Empire should feel that their duty is to build up British 'trade and to keep foreign markets in a secondary place. The appeal for increased production in the Dominions is not made only so that each Dominion should become financially wealthy, but to strengthen the whole Empire. On the other hand, the Dominions have a right to claim protection by the Mother Country from any form of exploitation from inside the Empire or j from outside. The unpleasant situation that has arisen in the meat trade and the better facilities which it is stated are being permitted to Argentine producers are due to failure of thorough co-operation on Britain's; part with New Zealand, and we believe that the only way to prevent a, recurrence at any future time is by more thorough co-operation—-not the so-called co-opera-tion which might give unequal advantages to Britain, but real co-operation which protects and makes for • the greatest welfare of both parties to contracts. The extent to which the several portions of the Empire should cooperate is unlimited, but it is most important and is a subject worthy of the most careful thought by every lover of the Empire and everybody who wishes to see the nation restored as rapidly as possible. If British Governments and people will hold fast to the great lessons of the war and all portions are properly knitted together in a spirit of true co-operation, there need be no fear for the future safety of the Empire and all that it represents.