The Ensign. MONDAY, MAY 21, 1909. EMPIRE DAY.

Mataura Ensign, 24 May 1909, Page 2

The Ensign. MONDAY, MAY 21, 1909. EMPIRE DAY.

The British Empire lias celebrated to-day not only tlio anniversary of tho Ijirtli of tho most illustrious of tho long lino of uionurcliK who have ruled over the nation but has been reminded of the responsibilities which have fallen upon it during the latter centuries oi its existence. Those responsibilities have been of gradual growth, and have not all been .sought. They have in many eases been laid upon us in such a maimer as to be unoxplainablo in any other way than by accepting divine interposition as the medium by which they came. The British people arc but » handful, yet their flag Hies over a fifth of the entire surface of tlx' globe, and British law governs some -100 millions of the human race. This fact should give every citizen of the Empire cause to pause and think—in the language of the Bible to "consider what ye have to Jo." The teeming populations of India, Burmah, and (.'pylon have been so greatly benefited by the blessings of freedom under British law that they have increased both in number and material wealth. Egypt has once more become a prosperous land, and its fertile soil, irrigated by the beneiicielit river Nile, whose waters arc now stored and regulated by the labors of the engineers who lmv<> followed the British soldier, is eupable of maintaining as vast a population as when the ancient Pharaohs there roigned supreme. The people of India, notwithstanding occasional families, have cause to be grateful that tho Just, rule of their British governors has enabled them to

enjoy the fruits of their labor in peace, free from the tyranny of native princes. The Mack races of Africa fun] I he conditions which pruvail under the British Hag so congenial that they urc increasing in such numbera as to cause somewhat of an embarrassment to their white rulers. It can therefore be readily recognised that the vastness of the Empire is, Mich as to impose upon the British Government a burden which can only be borne with great, labor. We have recently seen that the policy of the present Liberal Government has willed forth much criticism from men who have assisted to build the Empire. Lord Hoberts has emphatically inform* ed his countrymen that they will not be able to hold the possessions which have been given to them without severe sacrifices. Probably no man can speak i with greater authority than he upon the subject. Kipling has devoted all the power of his poetic genius to vividly portray the duty which devolves upon the British people. Ho has warned them that it is by lubor and by labor alone that their Empire can be held together. The naval leaders have shown the nation that their ships must not only be more numerous and morepower- | ful than those which form other navies, | hut they .must be manned by compet- | cut British seamen. The problems which have to be solved by Parliament at Westminster are therefore grave ones, but in addition to those mentioned there are others. What has been done for the masses of the British people in the past? The territory of the nation has increased, but the condition of the people at the heart, of the Empire has not been bettered as it should have been. Taxes have increased as the Empire lias extended and it may be expected that ere long the taxpayers will inquire whether the time has not arrived when the whole of the citizens of the Empire should contribute towards its defence. The poverty

iuml wretchedness of many of tile people of Great- Britain are such as to cause philanthropists to question the soundness of our economic conditions and to seek for a better met hod of distributing the products of labor. We as a nation have hail many years of uninterrupted prosperity, but the economic laws of the Motherland have surely been faulty to the extent that the lew have become very rich while al Ihe fuini 1 time many have become extremely poor. Empire Day is not therefore set apart for vainglorious jubilation, liatlier should it be regarded as a day upon which we shall consider our duties as citizens. These duties are of such a character as to entail strcpuou.s labor. While flag-flying may not, enable us to perform much of this labor it will neither injure nor prevent those who indulge in it. from taking up their share of the burden manfully. And Ihe sneer east upon it. by the British Milliliter of War was ill-timed and ill-advised. it is necessary to bring homo to the people the patriotic duty tlicv owe to' their country and (lag-Hying is one of the menus by which this can he done. Hut above all it is necessary fur every citizen of the Umpire, oil this day especially. to ponder well upon the responsibilities which have been laid upon our nation. In this favored land of Xew Zealand, which our late Premier proudly called (iod's Own Country, we have much to do. It is our duty first to make ourselves fit to defend it, so that when the time of our Empire's trial arrives we may he an assistance rather than a hindrance to the great Motherlnnd from which we sprang.