THE GREATER IDEALS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13070, 9 May 1913, Page 4

THE GREATER IDEALS.

OVERSEAS 'HOSPITALITY, LONDON; May 2. The Empire Parliamentary Association has accepted the Federal Government's invitation to send a party* to Australia, the resolution 'being carried' on. the motion ol the Speaker of the House of Commonfe, Mr James Lowtherj seconded by. the ex-leader of the- Opposition, Mr A. J. Balfour. *..,.' The Speaker said that he hoped that those •* who were fortunate enough to visit Australia would bring back with them an increased love. ; . of . and regard for the Empire, and also take with tlieni to Australia a proof of the. continued goodwill, understanding, sympathy, and affection felt by the mother country towards the overseas,. dominions which it was ithe. object of the association to pro-

mote. „-, .. . M .*- i- • ■:■■< •■■■■ •< ■■■*.' They were, he continued, always glac to be able to assist in the granting ol certain privileges to overseas' legislator* who visited Westminster, and were, h< might add, somewhat ashamed tliat con sidering -the privileges and advantage! vouchsafed to members of the House ol Commons by the overseas' legislatures they at home could do so little. Bin the dwellings in the newer lands w.er< more spacious ■- than the dwellings in th( old- land,-, and though there -was a Hml in space there was no limit in the wii that they felt -they had -to meet th< wishes and demands of their celleaguei from abroad.- The r; desire of . those „wh( made the trip .would be to acquaint themselves with .the conditions and. feel ing3 of those who were carrying on th< Imperial work in those far-distant" re gions. - There. \vas. the, possibility thai in .the very fact that those regions'.wer* far-distailt loyal patriotism was likelj to overshadow Imperial patriotism. 11 was the aim of statesmen of the-prcsenl period of thq world's history to. see thai local patriotism was not allowed tc

drown the larger patriotism. It was not an easy task, concluded Mr* Lowther. The great elements of human nature struggled against it, • but it should he ; theii,* business t<j> see that notbing was allowed to interfere with the growth of the wider ideals of patriotic feeling.' *. ■ .... . „ M r ■ Balfour §aid\ there was no more striking testimony. ,to the vfilue. of ..the Empire' Parliamentary Association, than the invitation that they had received in England, from their brothers in Australia. "It'isineceasaryjV. ihe continued, "for lis so to organise ourselves as to make our brothers* overseas feel what is an absolute fact,. : thab we welcome their desire for our presence as showing every sign- ofo hospitality vi-- It -is impossible to' oyei'eaiimate f *tJh.e importance of becorning , personally, acquainted with the conditions a,pd .feelings of those who, are, working ■ Imperially in * far distant parts of the Empire." >'.v - ,> „ Mr Bonar Law, Leader : of- the Opposition, remarked., that it was frequently a cause for complaint on the part of the, people in Australia and Canadatha't the members of tlie House of Commons took very little trouble to. become; 1 acquainted with' the conditions qf, the outside parts, of the Enipire. "I think," he proceeded, "that thas is no longer true. At no time has there been* niore interest; or more desire felt . ior .-.- the mn^ty , of-, - the Empire as a.Avhoie.than-there.is to-day. Everyone, like/myself, wben visiting the Dominions*; has. been struck by the\nnboiinded kindness andi.hospita_ty;.inivari- j

ably ■ received, though ■ there is such a stream of life in London tliat while we have always had a strong desire to show -similar kindness it has been* always difficult to give effect tb our wishes." ;•/' " .■»_■_______—■—■■»