[ESTABLISHED 1875.] Manawatu Daily Times The Oldest Manawatu Journal. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1914.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12752, 26 March 1914, Page 4

[ESTABLISHED 1875.] Manawatu Daily Times The Oldest Manawatu Journal. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1914.

THERE is a magic about the very name of the Anglo-Saxon Club, for its title is calculated to stir the blood of all true Britishers wherever they are scattered in the wide dominion over which the Union Jack waves. It embodies the idea of an Anglo-Saxon Confederacy, which is destined to be formed, and which will have an all-powerfut influence 011 the peace of the world, the spread of civilisation, and the uplifting of humanity. From a London paper we learn that the Club, though it is yet only a name and has no local habitation, includes on its roll of membership many distinguished men who are known throughout the whole Empire. It has had many men of note as its guests, including the premier Duke of England, the late Lord Strathcona, and men of high fame as statesmen and soldiers. The Club has a special interest to New Zealanders, for at a recent meeting its guest was our own High Commissioner, the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, and Lord Plunket was in the chair. His Lordship described the guest as "a very modest man," which must have made our bashful Commissioner blush, and Lord Plunket then went on to laud his career in the country in which he attained high political position, and also referred in terms of praise to his efforts to promote the interests of the producers. Mr Mackenzie made a very effective speech in reply to the toast of his health. After reference to his work in connection with commerce he made some remarks on the objects of the Club of which he said "the first was to promote patriotism. This ought to be comparatively easy, inasmuch as the vast majority of the people who owned the sway of the King were patriotic in every fibre; but he confessed that at times the attacks of the 'Little Eiiglanders' were trying to New Zealanders, who were working out their own destiny. In connection with their finance and their defence policy, it was extremely annoying to find that men who had no concern whatever with their Dominion were continually falsifying their financial position, and giving utterance to slanderous statements regarding the work which they were carrying out.; He hacl observed that a banker i of authority had stated that the ■ overseas dominions should 'bor-l row less and spend less.' With all due deference to the deliver- 1 er of that opinion, he entirely j lacked a proper perspective of \ Imperial necessity. If Britain's' possessions were to be maintain- j ed, it was essential that her

! spare spaces should be filled ! with people of our own race if possible. To do that the coun- | try must be opened up by rail . and road, and other essentials | must be provided. 'So long as iwe have vast empty spaces,' | added Mr Mackenzie,'so long j will these countries constitute a , weakness in our Empire.' "

THEN Mr Mackenzie proceeded to water the growing plant the seed of which was sown by Sir Joseph Ward at the Imperial Conference when he pleaded for the creation of an Imperial Council and Empire Co-Partner-ship. We still quote from our London contemporary as follows : —Mr Mackenzie, observing that another of the objects of the Anglo-Saxon Club was to "bring and bind together the many branches of the Englishspeaking peoples," next spoke of the importance of Empire unity. There were some thinkers in this country, he observed, who believed that our Empire had grown too large, and they quoted ancient authorities in support of that contention. It was not his wish to deal with that aspect; they had now the responsibility of Empire and it was their duty to carry out that which is necessary for its preservation. "We must stand together." Such visits as those recently paid to the Dominions by members of the British Parliamentary party he thought would do much to remove misunderstandings and wrong conceptions. They had reached a stage in the development of the Empire when new provisions must be made to meet enlarging conditions. In 1902 Mr Joseph Chamberlain, M.P., expressed the willingness of the Home Government to give the Overseas States a corresponding voice in the policy of the Empire directly they were prepared to take a proportionate share of Imperial burdens, and hoped that ultimately the powers conferred would be executive and, perhaps, also legislative. Mr Mackenzie also quoted the remarks of Mr Asquith and Mr Borden, the Canadian Prime Minister, on this subject, and in conclusion said: "All these deJ liverances point to the neces- [ sity for something being done to weld more firmly together the various interests which are common to the whole, and to give to | local authorities extended powers to control purely local or do- | mestic affairs. When this is accomplished, then I believe that, in the words of the Anglo-Saxon Club's policy, much will have been done 'to bring and bind to* gether the many branches of the English-speaking peoples.' "

THE judgment given by Mr J. VV. Poynton in the River Board appeals shows that he had an excellent grip of his subject, and realised the community of interest of all property-owners in the Borough, both those whose lands may be injured, and those whose properties would therefore have to provide more rates because of the reduced values of the injured properties. In these matters it is impossible to give satisfaction to all, but it is evident that Mr Poynton's judgment was very carefully considered, and, speaking generally, it should prove satisfactory.

WHILE the judgment of Mr Poynton may be regarded as fair on the whole, there are instances in which it will work out peculiarly, but for these results those who failed to object have only themselves to blame. Those who objected have had their appeals allowed, while their nextdoor neighbours who did not object, remain in the classification list. We presume these anomalies escaped the attention of Mr Poynton, but we learn that feeling is so strong that a petition asking the Governor to dissolve the Board is already being numerously signed.