WORTHY CITIZENS OF EMPIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20354, 10 March 1928, Page 17

WORTHY CITIZENS OF EMPIRE

EX-NAVAL MEN FOR THE DOMINIONS. SELF-RELIANT AND PERSEVERj IN6. HIGH STANDARD OF THEIR CHILDREN. (Fbom 008 Own Cob2esposdest.) LONDON, January 23. Countries of the Empire desiring that empty spaces should be filled by settlers from Great Britain will find no better; type (in the opinion of Admiral of the Fleet Earl Beatty) than ex-naval men. In a letter in The Times to-day Earl Beatty remarks:— So far as I am aware there exists at present no inducements, and very little opportunity even, for these men and their families to settle in our dominions. It is unnecessary for me to testify to the sterling qualities of men who have served in his Majesty’s navy, but I have recently received a piece of information which has a very direct bearing upon this. It is to the effect that the physical and mental standard in the schools attended by their children in the three naval ports is a very high one, superior indeed to that of other schools under the local authorities. I have every reason to believe this to be true, and the fact tnat entry into the navy is made by selection of only the fittest of large numbers of applicants would lead one to expect this. Throughout his service career the bluejacket is kept at a high standard of physical fitness, aid his training rendeiA him particularly adaptable, and I believe it to be recognised that in opening up new territories the most successful settlers are those who can turn their hands to anything. My is in no way to appeal to our fellow-subjects overseas for.; charity for ex-naval men, but only to voice my belief that they would prove a. very fine asset to any dominion in which they could be given an opportunity or becoming settlers. The age limit for entry to the Government training camps at Claydon and Brandon has recently been raised to 35 years, and this welcome change will enable men who have completed their 12 years’ engagement in the navy' t<|, undergo training at these camps, and it Is to be honed that a great many of them will take advantage of this. I am fully aware of the tendency which' exists in the dominions for the population to drift into the great cities, but I Teel; that the type of man about whom I am writing has the qualities of self-reliance and perseverance which would render him less liable than some others to be beaten by the difficulties which confront the settler in undeveloped territories. There is, of course, much to be done in the way of forming village communities which would offer the ordinary amenities of civilisation and social intercourse, but this is a question upon which the dominion Governments have access to much more knowledge and experience' than I have. The seeds of the Empire were planted-' by the seafaring population of these islands, and I am convinced that the spirit of pioneering and adventure is by no means extinct. In short, I feel that our ex-naval men, with reasonable inducements and facilitities, would prove worthy citizens of any dominion of the Empire.