FAITH IN THE EMPIRE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 929, 30 January 1924, Page 5

FAITH IN THE EMPIRE.

NEW COLONIAL SECRETARY. CHANGE WITHOUT UPHEAVAL. LONDON, Jan. 29. Mr J. H. Thomas, in a speech following that of the Prince of Wales at a luncheon in celebration of Australia Day, explained that he had accepted office with pride, remembering that he had commenced life as an errand boy at the age of nine. He felt gratitude that he was a member of a nation whose constitution enabled the engine cleaner of yesterday to be the Minister of to-day. That constitution was broad, wide, democratic and must be preserved, and the Empire providing it must be maintained. Mr Thomas convulsed his audience with a story of his introduction to office. He asked the porter, “Is this the Colonial Office P” The Porter: “Yes, whom do you want to seeH” Mr Thomas: “1 want to see the office.” . . Porter: “Well, this is it. Whom do you want to seep” Mr Thomas: “I want to see the office.”

Porter (impatiently) : “But whom?” Mr Thomas (thinking the time had come to reveal his identity) said: “I am the new Colonial-Secretary.”

The porter looked him up and down, turned to a companion, winked, and remarked: “Another shell-shook patient.”

Mr Thomas confessed that after five days in office, he was prouder of the Empire than ever before.. Britain had passed through a revolution wherein ink and not blood had been spilt. There had been a great change without disturbance or upheaval. Trade, commerce and finance were progressing as though nothing had happened. There were many who were apprehensive about the change, but the least apprehensive were the Prince of Wales and his illustrious and distinguished father, because they wore the most wise. They knew their people, recognising that patriotism, love of Empire, service and duty were not the gift or the monopoly of one class or creed. The King and Prince recognised that men born in humble circumstances, without the advantages of a university education or real learning, possessed a sense of duty and patriotism unsurpassed by any other type. The Empire was defended in the dark days of war by men of the slums, as well as of the palace, both recognising their common obligations. All sections could be trusted to do the right thing at any given moment. That was why, despite change in the Old Country, the old Empire would still progress. He paid a tribute to the Duke of Devonshire, who did his to unseat him, but nevertheless placed at his disposal his great services and experience. In referring to the anniversary, the speaker hoped his successors 136 years hence would be able to say that Labour did nothing as pioneers to weaken the Empire, of which all were so proud. The Duke of Devonshire said that if he and his colleagues criticised the Government it was only because they were anxious to arrive at the best possible effort for the further development and prosperity of the Empire. The Daily Chronicle editorially says: “Mr Thomas, in his Australia Day speech, wisely went beyond mere negatives. He gave firm assurances of the active sympathy and interest wherewith the Labour Government intends to discharge the Imperial side of its work. The circumstances of yesterday’s celebration carried the inevitable reminder that the assumption of office by the Labour Party, though an experiment in England, had passed far beyond the experimental stage in Australia long ago.” The Chronicle proceeds to urge the need for greater emigration and affirms that little help so far has been forthcoming from the Labour parties on either side of the sea. If the Labour Government thinks the problem has not been handled in a sufficiently humane way, let it show a more humane way.—A. and N.Z. cable.