ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19530, 13 July 1925, Page 13

ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE.

EMPIRE DAY DINNER. EARL JELLICOE ON WOMEN’S INFLUENCE. MR A MERY ON IMPERIAL DOMINIONS. (F'SOM Oca Own Cobbespondbnt.i LONDON, June 2. It was - hoped that the Duke of Connaught would bo able to preside at the annual Empire Day dinner of the Royal Colonial Institute, which took place with its usual success at the Hotel Victoria. In the unavoidable absence of the duke, however, Sir Charles M‘Leod (chairman of the council) presided. The banquetihg hall was decorated with the flags of the various dominions and Crown colonies. Those present included: The Right Hon. L. S. Amery (Colonial Secretary), Sir J. Baird (Governor-General Designate of the Commonwealth of Australia), Field-marshal Sir W. Birdwood, the Earl of Meath (father of the Empire Day movement). Sir E. R. Bowring, Brigadier-general C. R. I. Brooke, ALP., Sir T. Brooko-Hitching, Mr E. T. Campbell, M.P., and Mrs Campbell, Lioutenant-oolonel and Mrs H. V. E. de Satge, Sir G. Dolby, Admiral Sir E. Fremantle, Lieutenant-colonel and Mrs Hartigan, Sir Robert and Lady Ho Tung, Admiral of the Fleet Earl Jellicoe and Countoes Jellicoe, Sir Godfrey. Lagdon, Commissioner D. C. Lamb, Sir Charles Lucas, Brigadier-general Sir William and Lady Manning. Lady Masterton-Smith, Sir Francis and Lady Newton, Mr N. W. Smith-Carington, M.P., and Mrs SmithCarington, Lieutenant-colonel R. Eccles and Mrs Snowden, Alderman Sir G. Wyatt Truscott, Lieutenant-colonel Sir Archibald Weigall, and Mr N. Perston. ' Messages were received by cable from various overseas branches, including those of Canterbury and Gisborne. THE PERSONAL TOUCH. Mr Amery said that the title of the toast which he had to give—“United Empire”—put in two words the ideal and the purposes for which the Royal Colonial Institute had worked during the nearly 60 years of its fruitful existence. It had contributed in no small measure to the strengthening and maintenance of the continual unity of the British Empire. That ideal was stronger to-day than it had ever 'been. Ten years ago the great dominions took up the responsibilities of national life in their fullest sense when they offered all their wealth and manhood in a o-roat cause. Now the dominions were recognised as nations on the same level as any other independent nation in the world. Important as that formal recognition was, it was far loss important than the internal changes of status which took place when the British dominions were admitted to,full partnership in the control of the destinies of the Empire. It was in the will to be one that unity rested. As against the outside world the nations of the British Empire enjoyed a great position, and the citizens enjoyed the birthright of a citizenship wider than any which had ever before existed. A British dominion enjoyed great privileges—an Imperial status and Imperial privileges. Thai? was t>. status of which they could all be proud. He could not imagine any nation which enjoyed those proviliges voluntarily sacrificing them.—(Cheers.) The great thing in regard to the Empire was that each separate part should make the greatest endeavour to understand the other parts. He believed that it was essential for the British Empire that those who directed the affairs in each part should understand each other. His experience at the Colonial Office had convinced him that the only way to keep the Empire together was for those who directed its affairs to meet face to face and discuss each other's problems—social reform, Empire trade, the peace of the world—all those problems could only be discussed across the table. No constitution will keep the Empire together that depends on telegrams and despatches. The main task of, Imperial statesmanship during the next few years he believed lay in the statesmen in each part of the Empire doing what they could, even if it meant discomfort and difficulty to themselves, to take the trouble to get into personal touch with each other and understand one another, even if it had to be done at personal discomfort an I inconvenience. In conclusion, Mr Amery; paid a very high tribute to the late Lord Minto, who in season and out of season had advocated social reform. CANADA’S NEED—AND A STORY. The toast was received with great enthusiasm, and was acknowledged by the Bishop of Ontario. The Bishop described his title as a fraud, because his diocese covered an area greater than that of France and Germany combined. Even with the aid of an aeroplane he could nae possibly manage to cover it.—(Laughter.) Speaking of the dominion of Canada, ho insisted on the need of a greater population. To-day they had some 8,000,000; they could support, on a conservative estimate, 75,000,000. But it was essential that they should get the right people—and people from Great Britain. They already had their unemployed problem, so they would understand that in Canada they did not want people for the cities, but to work on the land. There was no dole in Canada. Promising not to be too long with his remarks, the Bishop told of an incident, that considerably embarrassed him at the time, until he knew the sequel. A new sounding board had been put in place over his pulpit—slender in design, with a large shell-like canopy. During the course of a sermon —he had not been preaching more than 10 minutes—he could see signs of mirth among the congregation, but he continued, though feeling rather hurt. However, finally, on making inquiry, he was told that a small boy, with the curious working of his childish mini, attracted by the sounding-board, had, in a very audible whisper, asked: “Mummy, when will the lid come down on the gentleman?” Brigadier-general Sir W. Manning (Governor of Ceylon), who replied at considerable length, spoke of the want of knowledge on the part of the general public of the lesser possessions of the British .Empire. LORD JBLLICOE’S TWO REASONS. Lord Jellicoe spoke briefly. He considered that the Royal Colonial Institute had been instrumental in doing great service to the Empire by bringing together people from all parts of the world-wide British Empire. It had been instrumental jn assisting to solve those great problems of Empire which were perhaps more difficult of solution to-day than ever before. One of the greatest needs was the diffusion of the British population among the various portions of the British Empire. “If the solution is so easy in one part of the Empire, why should it be not be equally so in another portion? Some people speak, when they speak of emigrants, as if it were only men who were needed in the dominions. My own impression is that it is as necessary for some of the 2,000,000 surplus females of Great Britain to place themselves overseas in our dominions, to meet that 800,000 shortage, of females that exists in the overseas dominions. There are two reasons at least why the females should go: (1) Because it is well known to all husbands, at any rate, that no woman attains her full character until she is wed; and (2) because it is known by husbands that feminine influence in the legislation of the country is of the greatest possible importance. If you have not got the females you cannot have the feminine influence, it is obvious, therefore, that they must get women emigrants.” Sir Charles M'Leod replied, and said he hoped before long they would be able to announce that something substantial had been done towards getting a building that would bo worthy of the part their institute played in the Empire. Several songs added to the pleasure of the evening, the artists being Miss Ivy I’hilips (Australia) and Mr Earle Spicer (Canada).