COLONIAL AIMS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 162, 10 June 1939, Page 7

COLONIAL AIMS.

BRITAIN’S ROLICY. A DA’ANCEAI ENT OF REORLE. LONDON, June 8. Air Malcolm MacDonald (Colonial Secretary), in the House of Commons I to-day, when he spoke on the Colonial Office vote, referred appreciatively. to the work of the Bleilisloe and Moyne Commissions in Rhodesia and Nyasaland. and the AYest Indies respectively, lie also paid a tribute to tiie work of Lord Haley in connection with the great African survey. Mr .AlaeDmmld added: “Our primary objective in the colonies is not the advancement of selfish interests of the people of Britain. It is the advancement of the interests of the people ol Ihe colonies themselves, f am not going to ho a humbug and deny that we derive immense benefits from our association with these territories, but if it ever wore our main purpose simply to exploit those territories, and ‘these peoples, lor our own purposes if lias long ceased to he so. “Our chief anxiety is that under our ride, and by the aid of our unrivalled experiences in Government, the peoples of the Colonial Empire, while preserving all that is best in their hallowed customs and ancient civilisations, should share in the benefits fin tie derived from modern scientific discoveries, social progress and political thought so that they can become full citizens of the modern world.” Afr MacDonald continued. “That is the moral basis on which our presence in the colonies must rest.” AYliile there was no room for complacency. lie concluded lunch had been accomplished and in all colonies tlie expansion of social services was going ahead. ■" ■