EMPIRE’S NEEDS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12455, 25 May 1926, Page 8

EMPIRE’S NEEDS

MR COATES’S MESSAGE PRESERVE FREEDOM AND (FOSTER CO-OPERATION In response to a request for a message £li the Empire’s most -vital need at the present moment, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Hon. J. Ci Coates, has sent the following to the “Daily Express,” London—- “ The cardinal needs of the Empire to-day in my judgment are, firstly, fixed determination on the part of its citizens to preserve inviolate, our glorious British heritage of freedom and a quickening faith in its mission to promote peace among the nations of the earth; secondly, the preservation of our constitution and the basic principles upon which it stands; thirdly, the strengthening of Empire unity by fostering mutual co-operation among its peoples and the development of our intcr-Imperial trade relationships.” In response to a request from the editor of “The Times,” London, the

Prime Minister has dispatched the following Empire Day message to London : —■ “The previous Empire Day issue of ‘The Times’ contained the message in which Mr Massey, in his last publio reference to this subject, reaffirmed New Zealand’s faith in the Empire. It has now become my privilege as his successor to pledge the Dominion’s loyalty anew and her fixed resolution to assist with all her power in the task of Empire-building. It will be my constant aim to foster this policy in every possible way. This purpose can be best promoted by measures which will make this country increasingly stronger and more able to discharge her Imperial obligations. The development work upon which we are engaged will enable us to offer new homes to greater numbers of our kinsmen from the Motherland, and to invite them to come and share the work of making this truly the Britain of the Southern Seas. The progress which can be made with this design must depend mainly upon the unity of purpose with which it is pursued. “Influences are at work to destroy the unity and impair the strength of the Empire. These must be exposed and combated. At' tbe same time, we must give great thought to those practical measures which will tend to strengthen the union. Naval defence, migration, means of communication, and mutually beneficial trade advancement policies, if given the united attention of all parts of the Empire, will help to preserve our heritage and make it more than ever a power for good in the world. “More than ever before, ‘Empire unity’ should be the slogan of British citizens.” Mr Coates has also responded as follows to a similar request from the editor of the “Empire Mail”:— “At a time when the heart of the Empire is being assailed by those desirous of undermining the constitution, I should like, on this anniversary of Empire Day, to reaffirm the undiminished loyalty of New Zealand to the Crown. We will continue to do everything possible to strengthen the of the Empire, believing firmly that its basic principles of freedom and democracy are too valuable to be vio. lated without the sternest resistance on the part of all patriotic British citizens.” In Wellington flags were flown and a salute of guns was fired.

“BACK TO LIGHT”

PEOPLE AND NATION UNITED MIR BALDWIN’S MESSAGE. Published in "The Times." LONDON, May 23. In an Empire Day message published in the special issue of “The Times,” Mr Baldwin says: “We, the Mother Country, have emerged from the shadow of a national crisis, and come back to light, because the people and nation united to resist forces which set themselves to destroy the sacred edifice of the Constitution. Our people did not merely fight for the cause of Britain; they fought for the whole Empire, because once the heart had become rotten and corrupt the whole being must inevitably have crumbled.” Just as the people of the Mother Oountry stood united in the face of danger, so would the nations of the Empire stand together in the face of a common enemy, whether from within or without the gates. PROGRESS OF DOMINIONS “The Times’ Empire Day number devotes graphic, illustrated pages to the progress of the Dominions. Admirable articles deal with the peopling of the Empire; trade under the flag, finance, transport, defence, produce, agriculture, aviation and British films, which, it is suggested, should be discussed at the Imperial Conference. The Prime Ministers of the Empire send anniversary messages. Mr Cosgrave, President of the Irish Free Sti.te, urges a better understandir.g of the Free State among other portions of the Empire. May 24, 7.15 p m.) LONDON, May 24. A number of newspapers publish leading articles ou Empire Day. ’The “Daily Express” gives prominence to the Empire Day messages from Mr Bruce and Mr Coates. CELEBRATION IN SYDNEY By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received May 24, 8.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 24. The city was beflagged in celebration of Empire Day. Patriotio addresses were delivered at all schools, and there was a great demonstration at Queen’s Square, where an address was given by the Governor-Generai. Special services were held iu all the churches.