EMPIRE DAY

Southland Times, Issue 20496, 26 May 1928, Page 7

EMPIRE DAY

OBSERVANCE AT HOME USE OF WORD “COLONIES” DEPRECATED DISTINGUISHED GATHERING IN LONDON (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 7.45 p.m.) London, May 25. His Majesty’s congratulations on the attainment of its 60th anniversary were read at the Colonial Institute’s Empire Day dinner. The Duke of Connaught presided and officially announced that the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Gloucester would tour British East Africa next autumn. The guests included Sir James Parr, Sir Joseph Ward and Sir Thomas Mackenzie. The Duke of Connaught, toasting the Royal Family, said the members were becoming well-known figures in the dominions. This was the repeated wish of his mother, Queen Victoria. The Duke of Gloucester was a rare exception, but this he hoped to be merely the beginning of his acquaintance of Empire touring. Proposing the toast of a United Empire the Duke referred to the change in name of the institute to the Royal Empire Society. He said the word “colonies” was almost becoming a term of reproach. It was desirable to recognize the dominions’ status in the change of name of the institute. Sir James Parr responding deprecated the use of the term “Commonwealth of Nations.” He himself did not fear the term “Empire” because it raised the bogey of militarism. The Commonwealth of Nations did not include India and the non-self-governing dominions and for that reason it should be dropped. He predicted that the whole world would speak English a generation hence. Sir Thomas Inskip declared himself sufficiently old-fashioned to prefer “Empire” to the term “Commonwealth of Nations.”— Australian Press Association—United Service.