THE EMPIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 20 April 1923, Page 5

THE EMPIRE

MAINTENANCE OF INTEGRITY COOPERATION OF BRITAIN AND DOMINIONS (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association). LONDON, April 19. Colonel Amery, speaking at- the Junior Constitutional Club, adumbrated the Government policy relating to preference, migration, settlement, trade, finance, ami defence. Referring to the economic conference he described it- as affording an opportunity for laying the foundation of a future economics superstructure of Empire. Mere financial stabilisation would not get rid of the Empire's burdens. We must broaden the shoulders which must bear those burdens. This meant Imperial economic cooperation in responsibilities coinciding with participations in benefits. Britain must always be the industrial unit of the United Kingdom, and he hoped would also remain the industrial unit of the Empire. That was tha basis upon which the future Imperial pyramid must be built. The Empire Settlement Act was the first measure, in British history which endeavoured to secure a better distribution of people to the mutual benefit of over-populated Britain and underpopulated dominions. If that measure was warked wholeheartedly it would he an advantage to those dominions now suffering from shortage of population. Capital would not flow to the dominions unless the dominions were guaranteed a better and bigger market for dominions' exports to the production of which capita! was devoted. Effective redistribution of man power and money power was necessarily dependent on providing markets for the utilisation of products resulting from the cooperation of men and money in undeveloped dol minions. Towards that end Imperial [preference, would contribute. Referring to defence Colonel Amery said that only as an Empire and not as a United Kingdom had the war been won. fie contended that only as t-n Empire could peace be maintained. Inviolability of the Pacific was _ possible only by united action by countries btidering that ocean. It was impossible that the responsibility be borne sol sly by Britain. It was impossible to move bases from the British Isles to the boundless areas of Empire without the cooperation of the dominions, who >v re eauallv interested with Britain in the maintenance of the integrity of the Empire. ADDRESS BY PRINCE OF WALES LONDON, April 19. The Prince of Wales is suffering total loss of voice duo to laryngitis by which he has been affected for a week past. The Prince attended the Association of Chambers of Commerce dinner and instead of speaking supplied all the guests with a copy of his speech, in which he said the generation which fought the world war has a heavy burden to shoulder, but what after all is more striking than the burden itself is the spirit in which all classes were bearing it, "British enterprise is still equal to any task. It has already left behind a good many difficulties which earlier appeared insuperable. There are definite signs of returning progress. Substantial progress has already been made up laborious incline from the slough of depression to the firm ground of normal prosperity." Sir A. Shirley Benn, addressing the Association, said the Association looked at the world from the British angle With a determination to safeguard and promote British interests. Thus viewed the outlook was not very cheering, "but might not we find compensation for the economic chaos in Europe and the loss of European markets within. the Empire? Europe, sparred and crippled, by war and peace had so far gone to ruin that completo recovery would tako many years. The Empire is young and vigorous and under populated. A vast treasure house of wealth was only awaiting men and capital to unlock it. Could it "be doubted that in the latter, and not in the former direction. Britain must look for recovery?"