DUTY OF DOMINIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18692, 24 April 1924, Page 7

DUTY OF DOMINIONS.

MOTHER COUNTRY'S CLAIMS. MR MASSEY'S MESSAGE. Australian, and N.Z. Cable Association. (Seed. 9.5 p.m.) LONDON. April 22. The Times to-day publishes a special Exhibition section of 32 pages, in which it displays messages from every Prime .Minister in the Empire. Mr. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister of New Zealand, says — "Ten years ago a blow was struck at the heart of • the Empire. The oversea Dominions proved at that time that they were partners in the best sense of the term in the greatest organisation of nations' the world has ever known. Todav the scene has chanpuj. The British citizens are faced with yet another crisis. This time it in commercial and financial, but it threatens our Empire as certainly as Germany and her allies in arms menaced it in 1914. Again it is a blow at -Ihe heart of the Empire.

"The oversea Dominions and Crown colonies are prosperous, but that prosperity cannot continue undiminished if the citizens of the Empire allow the industrial and financial capacity of Great Britain itself to be weakened. Again, the Dominions recognise it as their duty, and . gladly they accept it, to come to the Empire's assistant*. Their, ability to do so is exemplified by the displays to be seen in the great exhibition at Wembley Park.

"The exhibition affords striking proof of the Empire's capacity to become selfsupporting without recourse to foreign countries. Moreover, it will enhance this aim. The citizens of the Dominion mast learn to know each other better, and to work for the benefit of each other, always remembering that their first duty is to their Empire and country. The exhibition will lay the foundation for this better knowledge, and upon that foundation we may continue to build' by improving our means of communication, by peopling the empty places overseas with energetic and enterprising British citizens by unity in defenco and cooperation in trade, so that the countries of the Empire will learn to buy from each other rather than from outside.

"If this is done the exhibition will be remembered as the beginning and not the end of a great effort to re-establish in Great Britain that prosperity which will assure the continued progress of the Empire from its centre to its farthest outpost, and the slogan of such effort, if it is to be completely successful, must be 'British trade for British peoples'." The British Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, says;— "The exhibition demonstrates variety of peoples and the resources of the Empire. It will strengthen mutual ties, traditions, friendship and knowledge. It will also display how the Empire's wealth, industry and skill can contribute toward the restoration of the peace and prosperity of the whole world." Sir Jaraes Craig, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, says:—"Ulster is proud of her place in the Imperial family at the exhibition. Ulstermen in future will proudly remember their participation in this great Imperial event." Mr. W. T. Cosgrave, President of the Dail, says:"The preoccupation of the Free State prevent us from making a national exhibit. This we regret, but the Iris! visitors will find inspiration in the manifested progress and productivity. ''