SCOTTISH AFFAIRS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23130, 31 August 1938, Page 6

SCOTTISH AFFAIRS

CONTROL BY ENGLAND

SELF-DETERMINATION MOVE ALLEGIANCE TO EMPIRE Scotland's desire to take control of its own affairs, while .vet maintaining its loyal allegiance to the British Empiro, was referred to by Mr. J. WShaw in an address to members of the St. Andrew's Society ladies' auxiliary in tlio Fabian Club rooms yesterday afternoon, The president, Mrs. J. K. Black, presided. "It has been becoming increasingly obvious that Scotland will have to do something to reassert its independence which was surrendered when Scotland camo definitely under the English power," said Mr. Shaw. "A lot oi the tribulations that Scotland is undergoing to-day could be very largely rectified if she had more control of her own local affairs. Jt is not a case of establishing ourselves as a separate people, but there is a host of problems arising in Scotland to-day that can be solved only by more control of our own aflairs. Factories Disappearing In the English Parliament, Mr. Shaw said, only seven hours of each session were devoted to Scottish affairs. Because of a lack of strong national spirit in Scotland the people had allowed their lives gradually to be controlled from tho south. ithin the last few years great Scottish railway companies had fused with English companies and the headquarters, factories and workshops had all been moved to England. The Scottish naval bases had been dismantled and naval repair work was now done in English ports. In education the Scottish system was controlled from England, and no inspectors were allowed in Scottish schools unless they had graduated from either Oxford or Cambridge Universities. English banks bad absorbed the Scottish banks and Scottish finance was now ruled from London. "There is, in fact, a steady movement into England of all the vital forces which should be animating Scottish lile," said Mr. Shaw. The Nationalist Movement A strong nationalist movement had been started in Scotland as a result of this trend, the speaker continued, and although the movement had done some very foolish things, it was nevertheless serving the purpose of trying to reestablish the people's independence. "Scotland must bo a nation again," he saicl. "It has a rich cultural inheritance which can bo maintained only if Scotland stands firmly on her own feet once more." Ar T - A tribute to Miss Jessie McKay, whose death occurred in Christchurch just over a week ago, was paid by Mr. Shaw, who described her as New Zealand's greatest poet, and read soveral of hor poems. Songs by the Rev. A. E. Orr and Mr. E. J. Hill were very much enjoyed, Mrs. 11. Armstrong Kevin playing the accompaniments.