DOMINION STATUS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19020, 16 November 1923, Page 7

DOMINION STATUS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l have been reading an article in your paper entitled “Dominion -Status.” There seems to be great danger ahead if the dominions are on an equal status with the Mother Country, as there is the danger of Empire unity disintegration if at any time the dominions held different views to the Home Country on matters of foreign policy. For the children to become unruly in the presence of the mother ■is not very conducive to domestic happiness, and the dominions, as children of the Empire, may ultimately prove too wilful and headstrong for parental control. For each dominion to. have equal status with Britain means for it to have the importance and power of a separate nation in the eyes of foreigners. Therefore, if any of the dominions were attacked by a foreign nation it would be due to the view of the attacking foreign nation that each dominion would be self-defending. If we are on an equal footing with Britain in status, then it is logical to assume that we should each have our own navy powerful enough to protect each dominion’s shores. The fact that we are actually dependent on the British navy for its protection entirely contradicts the theory of equal status for Britain and the dominions, and the fact that we are on that footing puts us ’in a ridiculous position, as we are like children who are given the same privileges as ineir parents, and yet are under parental control. I don’t think that there would develop any serious disputes between the dominions, or between the dominions and Britain (they would be of an economic nature I fancy), but supposing a foreign Power made war on one of the dominions, would all the other dominions be bound to support the latter ? And the position of the Home "Country? Supposing she thought that dominion to be in the wrong, would she be bound to aid it? Of course we all say she would. But as long as each dominion has a separate, free, and independent equal status in (he eyes of the world there is the possibility of one of them getting into a scranc with a foreign Power and the danger of dragging all the other parts of the Empire into the quarrel. If. on the other hand, we are resting upon the judgment of the Motherland, she is more able to reason correct! v than we, her Empire children, and in the event of a war the whole Empire family is united under one leadership. Now what is our “Empire age?” Are we still under parental control of the Motherland or have we become of age? New Zealand is, sav. EO years old; Australia. ISO; Gannda-Newfoundland. 170 years old ; India, 170 years old: and South Africa about 200 to 300 years old. And vet, comnared to the age of the Homeland, we are inst infants; cubs of the British Lioness. If we “are of age” and able to look after ourselves we should each have had our own standing array and navy to defend each of us. but- where arc those armies end navies? Nowhere, except, only those of the Motherland, who gathers around her young ones with her fleet or portions of it, and so we are to-day, and always will be, dependent on tb" Old Land to protect, us. and we are still “under age" and suhiect to the parental control of Britain. I think that we should always fie under control; let us have an Empire Council of advisory character, but lei the executive control of all matters of foreign policy he left to the British statesmen. If ever there were differences at the conference on a question of war those dominions which were against war could be allowed to refrcin therefrom. dgo abide by the voice of the majority.— I am, etc., Georue T. N. Leslie. A BLOT ON THE OCTAGON. TO THE POITOU. Sir. —Having occasion to pass through the Octagon to Lower Stuart street recently, I was surprised to notice that a convenience adjoining the Oban Hotel, which had been closed for some years, has again been opened. As there is a public convenience immediately opposite it is surely quite unnecessary that this place should be re-opened. Has the Licensing Committee any idea of the structure of this convenience? The convenience itself is only a few feet deep. The width inside is the same as that of the door. This means that anyone using the convenience may be seen by passers-by when, as ofteu must happen,) the door is pushed wide open. There is no reason why this sort of thing should be tolerated in one of our main thoroughfares. Trusting that the proper authorities will have this matter put right, or that perhaps the owner of the hotel may see to it himself.—l am, etc.. Dunedin Business Man, but Not in Octagon,