PREMIER AND EMPIRE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12404, 25 March 1926, Page 7

PREMIER AND EMPIRE

SOLIDARITY OF DOMINIONS NO DISTRACTION BY OTHER NATIONS’ TROUBLES VISIT OF PARLIAMENTARIANS Responding to the toast of Empire at the Wellington Nearby Farmers dinner last night, the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, who was present for a few minutes, said the Dominion could help the Mother Country in no better way than by helping to bring out the right class of man, woman, and child to this country. While the Empire was finding difficulty m the reconstruction so essential after severe war problems, the Dominions must assist the Mother Country in her hour of need, and not he distracted by. the distractions in other countries. In this way they would be true Imperialists. They must also keep in touch with other parts of the Empire m order to bring about that-close cooperation necessary to make the t Empire what it should be. He believed there was to he another visit of Dominion Parliamentarians to Australia at no distant date, and it was only by such visits that they could realise first-hand all their aspirations, the atmosphere, and the political outlook of the widespread population of the Empire. He did not know if they would come to New Zealand. All that was required was solidarity and combination among their own people, and no oountry would treat them so well as did their own. There were family squabbles, but it was the “big idea” they wanted, and the time was coming when that comprehension would he given to the men responsible for the government of the Empire. (Applause.)