EMPIRE FEELING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 176, 25 June 1935, Page 10

EMPIRE FEELING

DOAIINION AND AUSTRALIA. DR. GORDON’S COMPARISONS. AUCKLAND, June 24. After several months spent in touring New Zealand and Australia, Rev. Dr. C. AA 7 . Gordon, the eminent Canadian divine, better known to many as “Ralph Connor,” is passing through Auckland by the Niagara on his way back to Canada. Dr. Gordon discussed national characteristics of New Zealand and Australia, and compared them with the Canadian outlook. Generally (je has found Australians and New Zealanders insular to a certain degree and mure interested in the essentially British rather than the international viewpoint, but in addition he gas found them ’ hospitable and friendly to a-i extent which he had not ibought possible. Some New Zealanders are inclined to criticise Australians as being too aggressively Australian, but that is not Dr. Gordon’s view. “In Australia,” lie said, “there is an intense imitation of, and submission to, British ideals and British ways of thinking; the whole outlook is through the British mind. Australians know very little about Canada apart from the fact that they have a vague idea that it is mostly snow and ice, although in some quarters there seems to be an increased consciousness of the United States. This viewpoint after all is very natural, as Australian lustoiy is very largely British history, and the people have never been through anv great trouble in the making ot their land. I found the British outlook in Australia just as pronounced as it is here, but I do not know whether there is the same national unity as there is in New Zealand. The system of State Government emphasises internal divisions and prevents the growth of real unity. However, I am confident Australia will overcome that difficulty“lt did not seem to me that the Church in Australia has the same dominant place and influence that it has m Canada. In New Zealand, too, the Church is much stronger and is a far more powerful element in forming public opinion. A study of life in both countries has proved most interesting. There are so many things different from what we are used to in Canada, and yet the Empire feeling is undeniably strong. However, it to me' that both Australia and New Zealand need to broaden their outlook on the world as a whole. Consciousness of Britain has been intensely developed, hut not eonsciouness of world empire In both countries, I think, there is a feeling that isolation means -afctv. That is only relatively true. In Australia there is not yet a universal and passionate surrender to the demand for peace. There are still elements in the community with a lingering feeling that war may have its place in tlie scheme of things and that the world can be kept stronger by a bigger navy or a bigger army, ideas that are now archaic.” Asked whether his tour would inspire him to write of the southern Dominions. Dr Gordon said he was not one of those men who rushed through a country in a fortnight and then hurst into print as an authority. His views were the views of an individaul, and lie had broadened them in many directions. Having “discovered” Australia and New Zealand for himself, he hoped it would not be long before he was able to return.