CONSTRUCT EMPIRE VALUES ANEW

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6866, 24 May 1932, Page 6

CONSTRUCT EMPIRE VALUES ANEW

Hopes of New Era at Ottawa PRIME MINISTER’S EMPIRE DAY MESSAGE Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Prime Minister’s Empire Day message is as follows: — “At a time when closer co-operation in the ordering of tho economic life of the British Commonwealth is recognised as being of tlie greatest importance, the observance of Empire Day must have special significance. It is on this day that one pauses to give heed to the years of toil, foresight and initiative that have been combined in the building of the Empire as we of our generation know it. If it is not to be regarded as an empty symbol the day must mark a definite occasion. It must bo used for one thing: to construct Empire values anew. It must serve as a milestone at which we should strive to reach a truer understanding of Empire history and adjust ever-changing conditions to the new order of things. “To-day tho nations of the British Commonwealth are on tho threshold of what many hope will be a new era. The Empire Economic Conference to be held at- Ottawa may open the way for a revival of lagging trade and a period of a much closer commercial relationship between the nations of the Commonwealth. For the conference to succeed tho peoples of the Empire must show a will to work for tho common good and a determination to show that spirit of co-operation which will be implied in the letter of any agreement that may be reached in Canada. “Thus on this day we must be prepared to take stock of Empire values. Overseas trade, which is the .life blood of this Dominion, cannot be built up indefinitely by any one unit of the Empire independent of the rest. Our interests are too closely knit to allow complete singleness of purpose at a time when modern life is sweeping awaj the old insularity and replacing it witu a world wherein repercussions of an event in London may be felt very definitely in tho furthest outpost. of the Empire. Tho day bears a special interest for us during this critical time of our history, and this interest cannot be overlooked in view of the importance that is being attached to the events to take place during the coming months.” Copper and the Conference U.S. RAISES WALL AGAINST CANADA Received Monday, 9.0 p.m.% OTTAWA, May 22. Copper is likely to form an important subject of discussion at the Economic Conference hero in July. Iho prospect of n duty of four cents a pound on Canadian copper entering the United States, which is regarded as prohibitive, liaa turned the attention of ofiicials preparing for the conference to the task of securing data which may make possible a more assured market for the metal. Canada’s trade in copper in the past has been almost entirely with the United States.