GATEWAYS OF EMPIRE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16606, 9 December 1924, Page 7

GATEWAYS OF EMPIRE.

MUST BE SAFEGUARDED

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE EX TENDED.

IMPORTANT MINISTERIAL STATE. ME NT. fßlec. Tel. (Jopjriglil United Press Assn. [Australian and N.'A. Cable Association. (Received December 9, 10 a.m.J LONDON. December 8. Colonel Amen*, Secretary for the Colonies, in a speech said Ihe Ministry was bound ti. make sure of the Singapore gateway. Colonel Ainery was the guest of the Australian and New Zealand Luncheon Club. He said Australia and New Zealand in new movements to-day occupied a geographical position comparable lo the British Isles I lire/ hundred years ago. It was impossible to say 1.e.-day whether Australia and New Zealand would be abie to profit from the position and marvellous oppnrl unity lo defend themselves dlTectivoly against possible perjis ol thai position. Their weakness was lack ot numbers, owing to (he complete absence of a true co-operative policy with the Homeland for tho reciprocal use of each other's resources. But we wero learning wisdom now.

Colonel Ainery said he hoped it would now be possible to carry out an Empire settlement, policy to an even greater extent, than was provided by the Empire Settlement Act. He emphasised it was useless to assist people to cross the ocean unless provision were made to purchase their produce. He hoped, despite tbe slight lapse a few months ago, there would be even increasing pressure to carry out the policy of Imperial preference in everv direction.

Referring to tho necessity for keeping tbe ocean routes open in the interests of Empire defence, be said there were three gateways of vital importance—Gibraltar, the Suez Canal, and the Straits of Singapore. We were bound to safeguard effectively and fnni'.y our rights in Egypt, particularly those having a bearing on Imperial communications. This was an internal matter concerning the British Empire and not concerning anyone else.

Singapore was ano'ber gateway which might be valueless unless means were provided to re-equip our ships. That also was purely an internal matter for ourselves, which we were not merely entitled to look after but bound to make sure of.

He concluded : "In the vast developments pending in tbe Pacific, Australia and New Zealand must give a lead to th?> new world.as Britain lias, given a lead to. the old world."