The Manawata Daily Times Dominion Day

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7270, 25 September 1933, Page 6

The Manawata Daily Times Dominion Day

The growth of New Zealand since 1840, when it was declared a British colony, until the present day, has been amazing. The real praise for this must be given to those early pioneers, men and women of great vision and noble heart, who left home and security to woo Dame Fortune in a strange and distant land. Settled by sturdy folk of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, New Zealand has, in the short space of ninety years, achieved distinction for its material and social progress.

To-day, the anniversary of the day on which New Zealand was proclaimed a Dominion, is a potent reminder that we New Zealanders are an integral part of the British Commonwealth of Nations. The outward manifestations of the change from the status of Crown colony to that of a Dominion were not \ ciy great. The Governor was henceforward styled the GovernorGeneral, the Colonial Secretary adopted the more familiar title of Minister of Internal Affairs, whilst his colleague, the Colonial Treasurer, became the Minister of Finance.

Our new status was first recognised internationally at the Peace Conference in 1919 at Versailles, where each Dominion was accorded the rights and privileges of a nation. The importance of this is exemplified by the fact that New Zealand, among other treaty signatories, was granted a mandate over territory formerly possessed by Germany. More recently our Prime Minister represented this Dominion at the World Economic Conference, where the various nations were assembled in a World Parliament.

This status of nationhood, ancl the conception of an aggregate of nations owing allegiance to a common sovereign has been recognised and sanctioned in the Statute of 'Westminster. This enactment gives New Zealand, in common with the other Dominions, the right to determine her own foreign policy and conclude any essential treaties or agreements, providing she respects the wishes of the Imperial Parliament at Westminster on matters affecting the Empire as a whole.

It now remains for us to realise the fresh responsibilities this development has brought. We as a Dominion must have a national objective. A nation without such a focal point must by the natural order of progress fall behind in the struggle for cither commercial or race supremacy. History from the long point of view is, in a manner, the record of the failures of past Governments and Empires to adopt themselves to changing conditions on the one hand, while on the other, we can observe how the spirit of independence and vital nationalism, so necessary for Imperial welfare, has been fostered by the prosecution of a national objective.

In a changing world let us not be unmindful of the lessons of the past in formulating our plans for the future, nor in the chaos of economic perplexity take a short view which would imperil the future for posterity.

A statement lias been published In northern papers that North Otago is experiencing a drought. This is far from being the case (says a telegram from Oamaru); the district has not experienced for many years more favourable spring weather. Thero has been ample rainfall, and the pastures and crops are in ftno condition,

The St. George Rugby League team arrived at Auckland ou Saturday by tho Monterey to play five or six matches in New Zealand, tho first match being on Saturday afternoon against Devonport, the Auckland premier team. The team is captained by J. Rutherford, and the average is 20 years. Tho team was runner-up this year for the Sydney championship,.