SPIRIT OF EMPIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21912, 22 September 1934, Page 10

SPIRIT OF EMPIRE

IDEAL OF BROTHERHOOD LORD BLEDISLOE'S APPEAL [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Friday Speaking at an Overseas League reception, the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe. said the league was based on the sentiment—the ideal of Empire brotherhood. The sentiment of Empire, with all its implications, was entirely wholesome and praiseworthy. "Let us rally round the Union Jack, but let us not be content with merely waving it, leaving others to keep it flying at the masthead," said Lord Bledisloe. The crying need of the Empire to-day was a genuine and unshakable fraternity, founded upon mutual knowledge, trustfulness and deep consciousness of the identity of inteiest, material and spiritual. The responsibility which rested upon the whole Anglo-Saxon race and upon the peoples of the British Empire was enormous. Could they but realise it, their strength was at least equivalent to their responsibility. With all little points of difference between different parts of the Empire, they belonged, so to sj)eak, to the same great mountain range. At present envy, fear and hate were forming heavy clouds, which hid the spirit of love, but these clouds could not last for ever. They could help to dissipate them by radiating human sympathy, buttressed by the consciousness of the power and lofty ideals of their race.