THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1922. KNOWLEDGE OF THE EMPIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18130, 30 June 1922, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1922. KNOWLEDGE OF THE EMPIRE.

Mutual sympathy and understanding confessedly provide the basis for the consideration of Empire affairs on occasions such as the meetings of the Imperial Conference. Questions to be discussed between Britain and the Dominions are attacked in the spirit that the parties have much in common, that among their differences are none which may not be resolved. The desirability, however, of representatives of Britain having some first-hand knowledge of conditions obtaining in the overseas Dominions has often been raised. Sir Joseph Cook has once again advanced the suggestion. The idea he expressed was that Imperial statesmen should visit the Dominions, visualising for themselves the community of interests and community of ideas characterising the component parts of the Empire. This may be regarded as a counsel of perfection. Yet, since schemes have recently been promulgated for j a formally constituted Imperial ! executive, to meet regularly, and to wield powers which nobody has ventured to define clearly, some practical advocacy of the plan is possible. The argument that the Empire manages very well under present conditions need not affect the issue. It might quite easily manage better. Sir Joseph Cook's remarks, as cabled, place the suggestion on a basis less material than coidd be adopted. There are definite problems in the Dominions which might well be studied at first hand.

One of the questions upon which the Dominions are most exercised is one which is often least appreciated in Britain. It is doubtful whether there is full comprehension of what the White Australia policy means to the Australian people. In a similar way, a deeper knowledge of the strength of New Zealand's feeling upon the subject of Asiatic immigration might result in a more complete understanding. Visitors from overseas generally carry away the impression that this is a question very vital to the people of the Common-

wealth and the Dominion, colouring their view of many issues which extend far beyond the bare question of racial purity. The vast unoccupied tracts of Australia fronting the Pacific need to be seen for a correct view to be taken of Australia's anxiety over every Pacific question. The fixed determination of New Zealand that no unchecked influx from Asia, tending to lower many standards, can be permitted would best be understood by spending some time among the people of the Dominion. India is often better known to the British legislator than any of the.self-governing Dominions. Yet of recent months experts have stated roundly that theory rather than first-hand knowledge has dictated the policy toward India. By seeing the peoples of India in the mass the home-keeping Briton might understand better why, without denying the right of the Indian to British citizenship, the Dominions set their face inflexibly against unrestricted immigration. It may be answered that in Britain there are more people with expert knowledge of India than in any of the Dominions. That may be so, but few of them have considered the individual Indiat as a possible neighbour, as the people of the Dominions have had to do. In addition, those • who know are not always the people best placed to mako their voices

'heard. British statesmen, viewing with the unprejudiced eye of the investigator conditions in other parts of the Empire, could gain information of mutual benefit to the peoples between whom they stood. Empire migration alone is a subject meriting study. Much information is already made available by the various countries desiring settlers. Selection of immigrants according to their suitability is growing in favour. A stimulus to the process would result if men to whose voices the nation was accustomed to listen were able to give advice from first-hand knowledge on the prospects for settlers, together with the class most likely to be assimilated. Preferential trade within the Empire has long been advocated in many of the Dominions. It seems now to have an enhanced prospect of being seriously considered in the Imperial Parliament. Fresh light might >well be gained upon if. by an Empire tour. The problems of defence are generally conceded to be most properly dealt with by experts. To them must be left the technical side, but while the conclusions are theirs, the final handling of the issues is generally undertaken by the layman, who could attack his task more confidently from personal knowledge,of conditions. All these things may not be possible, but all are desirable, and if by British statesmen travelling the Empire some could be achieved, the gain would be great. The broader results of a deeper, fuller I understanding could undeniably be achieved*