THE EMPIRE AND ITS KING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 24 June 1911, Page 7

THE EMPIRE AND ITS KING.

J IMPKRIAIi kvolutiox. I "S\*lii 1«_! the hui'ustopo of George. as wo have, si'i'ii, indicnf e< much 11ropt• i'i 1 y and- influence A or uniiil mi i'lic part i■ f llii' Sovereign Hi illicit., ;111< 1 :i lining' various members uf ihe lv«>y i ;i J Family. it. ii! s < > :it ihe same points In very rapid : i:' • .1 drasiic const ilitt ional changes amoiig tlu 1 numerous members oi. which the British Empire is composed; though, fortunately, it so happens that _ these changes relate more to the triumphs of diplomacy, peace, invention, and commerce than to the victories se-

cured liv anarchy, sedition, war, and blood -illf il.

Perilous times are ahead of us no i.i oull f, lint they arc only such iis are iici'CSMi ril.v i,-r<-idoii| lf> rapid- social and political transitions, and to e>:jii.'runenl's in matters of governmoni, l;i vi 11 n rise to fresh i n terisi" (iona I .■omplu-atioivs. It only means that all llie national and international factors and liners are being' rearranged with a view to the birth of a new epoch in Ihe history of the world." As to the British Empire itself, there ran be nio doubt but that in all important respects it is rapidly evolving'. ,I'ainf'ul local reactions manifest themselves at. times, and in some places retrogression appears a s if it were normal and necessary; nevertheless these features are only of temporary duration; and represent mere ■swirls and eddies on the surface of the overflowing river of hftmaii pro ii'l'l-SS. Internally the various members of the British .Empire are being drawn together in common bonds of interest and sympathy. This is the case, not only in regard to polities, education amd religion, but also in respect to commerce, facilities for transportation. means of communication, science, and invention, It is still more strikingly seen: in the attempts to conciliate Ireland in the efforts lo secure reduced cable rates, to obtain female suffrage, and on the part of the colonies and dominions to formulate concerted schemes of national defence. A cablegram from London on May Slst informed us that Lord Jlaldane, Secretary of State for War. in addressing the London University Officers' Training Corps, said that the Conference between the Dominion Prime Ministers, the "Home Ministers, and the Army and Navy experts, was a source of profound' satisfaction. " Wie have opened our minds- to each other,'' said Lord Haldane, "and we have talc on each other into confidence. We found we had a common purpose, common objects, and a common mind; and now we have come to a common conclusion on problems which until recently were obscure and difficult. One of the great problems this generation had to solve was how .to come to the aid of the more distant parts of the Empire, should they be in peril. It would be a tremendous burden to impose upoji these islands to send an. expeditionary force ro the aid of the outlying Dominions. La.i the problem might be solved if the rest of the nation were ready fo take up its burden. " Having found this /Solution* feasible, the minister concludes bysaying, "I believe the last week will turn out a memorable one in the Empire's histoo-." More recent cablegrams have contained still more astounding, announcements. On...the 17th inst we were informed that, at the Imperial Conference Sir Joseph Ward succeeded in carrying his motion in the direction o'f affirming the 'desirableness of establishing a State-owned wireless system. It further stated that Sir Wilfrid Laurier, in Supporting- the Commonwealth trade, resolution!, ' 'moved to " approach the King to appoint £l Royal Commission 'representing Britaiji and. the Overseas Dominions to investigate the natural resources and developments attain-ed and attainable, with facilities for production, 'manufacture, distribution, and trade of each part with others and the outside world, food and raw material, and the requirements of each; the resources thereof available, and to what extent the trade between the'different parts can be affected by existing legislation, beneficially or otherwise.'' iSpeaking to this resolution',"' Mr Ilarcourt described .it ..as "aiiother step in the policy which was tlie governing n.ote of the Conference, namely,, not Imperial concentration, but Imperial cooperation," which would improve the position, for cooperation in future throughout the : whole Empire. More important still was the utterance of the Prime Minister (Mr Asc/uitli), who described' Sir Wilfrid Laurier's motion as "a. practical proposition." He further promised that "The Commission should be an advisory body, with a reference as wide as words could make it. The Commission would' visit; every part of rhe Empire, and the Government would secure the best men possible." Thi s liberal declaration evidently stirred up Mr Ba}four, the Leader of the Opposition; and he, in, turn, tried ■to go one better. Presiding the n.ext day at a luncheon of the Constitutional Club ini honour of the overseas Premiers, lie said he ' rejoiced that the lat r should honour the club. '''lTlieir visit concerned the development of the greatest experiment ever made in the government of man. The time might come when the great growing dominions would feel it preferable, to go their own way, like the adults of a family. That ihiglit happen, and' the worldly wise would say it was preferable; yet he thought there was a higher and better wav, and lie dreamed other dreams .for tli'e , _future. . Hethought as they more ihoroiiglily realised i'n every feommunitv of .the. Empire that / ea'eljr •v^a»-- : t'Q ( aiii.-n&,ge its own affair-s, "caWy" its" own life, and make- its dwn! experiitt'ejits as a political atbiiV, i'ti would'b'e Tipon tyh'at solid basi s that they woitJd! £ buiid up something'" the wo rid' had, id fever, seen —a coalition of free( self-governing communities cohscious that they were never more masters of . their own fate th a a when) re&bgnisin^.that they wei ! e parts of a great . whole. He saw the beginnings to-day; of -posterity would Tsee the full' tuition." . . ■!, .•.

After tliis, it woiild, not "be very s'urjpri-sinjsr to hear of Mr Balfour Announcing* that he had been converted to ,the" lbiiffTi'e.ieeted . but inevitablyvictorious 'Gladstone policy of Home Rule for Ireland 1 ;' and we may hear of even the Tories in England talcing the wind', out of the sails of the Liberals, Radicals. Home Rulers, So,, cialists, find Colonial Premiers alike, by seriously proposing Home- Rule for Scotland. Wales, India, Fiji, and fhe Wiest'. Indies. At any rate', these things sooner or later are bound to come; inasmuch as they- are merely parts" of a world-wide movement infavour of freedom, which astrology shows lias its cleerper roots in general cosmic . causes plainly signified to enlightened scientists bv the relative positions, qualities. and: con-figura-tions of the heavenly bodies. It would -seem that the Imperial Conference of Premiers in London ■may bear some fruit in the way of tiromotinir a profounder study of ceslestial science. This much may .be inferred from certain remarks made by Mr Fisher, in reply to Professor T. 11. Warren, of Magdalen ColJeare, Oxfod. The ca/blesrram said: "-Mr Pisher added' that the Imperial Conference had already been fruitful of good results'. 'The British Goverri. mc7it, had invited the delegates to its very fireside. and asked tliem to come right, inside (not inside the fire, surely!) and learn what it was in-

i end Oil 1o do for the protect ion of all parts of the Kmpire. lie added that I the Australian G-overnmen t. would . U'ive. the establishment of a solar observatory cordial and favourable consideration. '' Thi s is t h.e very thing I have advocated for year-', a- a irreat desideratum in the .Dominion of Xe\v Zealand. ' Yea, 1 have even recommended a suitable, site in the neighbourhood of . Maruia Thermal Spiings for an Observatory, having multiplex fund ions in addition to making solar observations. Such an observatory would be of immense service to science and commerce, and New Zealand will need to look to its laurels or else ivi this respect it. will be left behind. As science advances people will more and more realise how - subject they are (like grass and flovver s and animals) to the influences of the Sun, the Moon, and ■the Stars. Jjiieraiure ha s Came in for its pro_ per share of honour among the Empire's representatives in London, and why should not science, especially that branch of science.which shows the groundwork of all movements on the mundane plane? A recent cablegram stated that "the Empire Press Union banquetted oversea journalists. Lord Cui'7.on. in proposing the toast of the guests, significantly said he believed th-.t the Imperial idea wa s progressing, aiid scattered units were drawino- closer to each other. Sir .Tioseph Ward. wli 0 had put forward with intrepid brevity proposals which were not accepted, had informed him that the Imperial Conference had marked a great advance." On astrological principles, as ; well as on political, social, and commercial grounds, all these grand results are, after all. only what might be .* expected: for, a-s in ancient times <c the stars in their courses fought against Sisera." so in our days the astfal influences proper, as well as the more occult- and divine powers which really rule fhe world', are markedly in favour of Kino- George V. and his family. of the "big battalions" at the service of his country, and .of the .self respecting and liberty loving people throughout the/ magnificent Empire over which he is providentially called to rule "O God, the Ruler of oiir race, The ways of men ordaining. Anoint our ICing with sovereign grace His right and cause maintaining. The. God wl'-o blessed us in the x>ast, Is stiill Hiis mercy proving., 'Tis He who binds us firm and. fast In love unmoved, unraoving." JOSEPH TAYLOR.