BALANCE OF THE EMPIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17965, 15 December 1921, Page 7

BALANCE OF THE EMPIRE.

THE -NEW ADJUSTMENT. DISTRIBUTION OF POWER. IRELAND AND INDIA. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright, (Roceived 7.48 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON, Deo. 13; Sir Charles Lucas, a former head of the Dominions Department of the Colonial Office, in a lecture at the Colonial Institute on the balance 1 of power within the Empire, propounded the theory that the creation of self-governing Dominions had redressed the balance by distributing power throughout the Empire, thus reducing the preponderance of Britain when the Empire consisted of the Motherland and dependencies. Regarding the future, Sir Charles expressed the opinion that if Ireland immediately and India ultimately became Dominions, this would further advantageously redress the balance within the Empire. Sir James Allen, High Commissioner for New Zealand, who presided, said that Ireland was a difficult and delicate question, with which ho was not prepared to deal. Regarding the Dominions, the war had unduly quickened their development, for which the Empire was not prepared, &nd a reaction had now set in. lie urged that development should proceed slowly but surely.

Mr. A. Jl Ashbolt, Agent -General for Tasmania, advocated improved passenger communications to promote Imperial knowledge and a redistribution of population, which would compel a redistribution of essential industries.