EMPIRE’S FUTURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26780, 25 May 1948, Page 4

EMPIRE’S FUTURE

PART OF DOMINIONS

CHANGE IN RELATIONSHIPS

If war came to the world to-day, a great part of Britain might be destroyed, and economically she would be in a worse position than at present, said Dr R. R. Nimmo, professor of physics at the Otago University, in an address on “ The Empire’s Dependence on New Zealand ” to the Victoria League in the. Concert Chamber yesterday. Dr Nimmo said that the people of New Zealand should therefore take stock of the position from this point of view.

Dr Nimmo added that increased primary production was not the only way in which New Zealand could help Britain at present. “We must endeavour to diversify our interests, and put into operation the finest techniques available,” he said. “We should try to provide better-equipped and betterstaffed universities, and provide instruction in the best methods available., This could be tackled without much expense, but with a great deal of succes. We could bring knowledge and education to th% highest possible standard in relation to the smallness of the country.” Dr Nimmo added that the importance of the farmer should not be forgotten, and attention could be given to scientific and industrial equipment to improve the production of the primary and secondary industries in New Zealand.

The speaker said that integrity and the ideas of democracy and freedom were associated with the British Empire. Although empires were now being regarded with disfavour, what was required throughout the world was an extension of the idea of an association of countries for their mutual benefit. The dominions had achieved something together with the Mother Country that it was desirable that the whole world should achieve.

Dr Nimmo went on to say that Britain was now at a low ebb economically. She neded food to preserve even he.r present standard of living. He added, however, that the British Empire was not likely to remain as it was to-day. The dominions would become more populated, and might separate, and for that reason they should endeavour to diversify their interests, not only for their own sake, or for that of Britain, but to provide the world as a whole with the examples of democracy and freedom which characterised the Empire, especially if they were left by war as oases in a desert of destruction.