LEAD TO NEW WORLD

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1187, 9 December 1924, Page 5

LEAD TO NEW WORLD

WORK FOR AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PACIFIC. [By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.] Received December 9, 10.5 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 8. Mr Amery (Secretary of State for the Colonies) was the guest of the Australian and New Zealand Luncheon Club. He said that Australia and New Zealand m the new movements to-day occupied a geographical position comparable to that of the British Isles 300 years ago. It was impossible to say to-day whether Australia and New Zealand would be able to profit from the position and the marvellous opportunity to defend themselves effectively against, the possible perils of that position. Their Weakness was -lack of numbers owing to the complete absence of a true co-operative policy with the Homeland for the reciprocal use of each other’s resources, but we were learning wisdom now.

Mr Amery said lie hoped it would now be possible to carry out- an Empire settlement policy to an even greater extent than was provided by the Empire Settlement Act. He emphasised that it was useless to assist people to cross the ocean unless provision were made to purchase their produce. He hoped, despite tlie slight lapse of a few months ago, that there would he an c-ver-increusing pressure to carry out tho policy of Imperial preference in every direction. Referring to the necessity for keeping the ocean routes open in the interests of Empire defence, he said there were three gateways of vital importance, viz., Gibraltar, the Suez Canal and the Straits of Singapore. They were bound to safeguard effectively and firmly their rights in Egypt, particularly those having a bearing on Imperial communications. This was an internal matter concerning the British Empire and not concerning anj' one else. Singapore was another gateway which might be valueless unless means were provided to re-equip our ships. That also was a purelv internal matter for ourselves, which we wore not merely entitled to look alter, but bound to make sure of. He concluded: “In the vast developments pending iu the Pacific, Australia arid New Zealand must give a lead to the new world as Britain has given a lead t.o the old world.” —Reuter.