DOMINIONS AND THE EMPIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 6 April 1922, Page 8

DOMINIONS AND THE EMPIRE

SPEECH 11Y PREMIER OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA {Bw Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Aij/cralian and N.Z. Cable Awociation.) Tim Hon. H. M. Harwell, responding to the Coast of liis health at the Lord Mayors banquet, said South Australia was imperially minded. Empire unity was necessary, both in defence and trade. The future of England and the Empire depended on the future of the Dominions because Britain and the Dominions were interdependent. “You could not,” he said, “maintain your position without us and we certainly could not maintain ours without you.” The Dominions were destined hi become great nations. Any one of them might ultimately surpass Britain in wealth and greatness. Should Britain decline which, God forbid, the Empire’s greatness was assured by the Dominions. Residents of Britain might hear occasionally disloyal utterances from Australia, hut these were merely isolated utterances of irresponsible people who were often given undue prominence by tho press. Regarding defence, he said that but for the British Navy, Australia would **«•' nu easy prey to the first foreign power jyhich sought to extend its territories and that probably would he an Asiatic power. “There is,” he said, “ a strong body of opinion in Australia that, rather than attempt to maintain a Navy of our own, we should contribute on a reasonable basis to maintain the British Navy.” Regarding trade he said the Empire should be self-contained, and self-sup-porting. They must keep trade within tho Empire. Britain would fall into second place unless she maintains commercial supremacy. The Dominions could help to maintain that supremacy.