NEW ZEALAND AND THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 209, 5 April 1913, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND AND THE EMPIRE.

SPEECH BY HON. JAMES ALLEN IN LONDON. At a city luncheon of the Royal Colonial Institute in De Keyser's Hotel, the Hon. James Allen made a great impression by his outspoken statement on the destiny of New Zealand in the Pacific. It was the first occasion on which Mr. Allen had an opportunity of really meeting a large assembly of the men who matter in London, and the extent of the gathering was a compliment to the personality of the Minister of Defence. Besides English business men, there were many New Zealanders, and the Australians in London, who have already entertained Mr. Allen in a private manner, turned up in force as a sign of appreciation of his frank reciprocity of Australia's defence proposals.

[ Earl Grey, ex-Governor-Gencral of Canada, presided, with Mr. Allen on lus right and Sir Joseph Ward on his left. Next to Mr. Allen was Earl Stradbrooke, l and then Mr. Mackenzie, while next to Sir Joseph Ward was Lord Plunket, with Lord Lamington on his left. Those present also included Sir Godfrey Lagden, Sir Matthew Nathan, Sir Hartraan Just, Admiral Sir Reginald Custance, Captain Muirhead Collins, Mr. A. R. Colquhoun, Mr. Richard Jehb, Mr. Edward Wakefield, Mr. R G. B. Waldegrave, Mr. Gilbert Anderson, Major E. H. M. Elliott, Professor Sale, Mr. A. Michie, Mr. Howard D'Egville, Mr. Ellis T. Powell, Mr. A. D. Lubecki, Mr. Leo Mvcrs, Mr. A. McC. Clark, Rev. H. 0. Fenton, Admiral W. 11. Henderson, Mr. Fabian Ware, the Rev. R, L. Gwynee, and Mr. P. E. Pilditch.

Mr. Allen, who was received with loud applause, s?.id he hoped there were some Australians present, for he had something to say to them, and continued:— "I would like to say that we in New Zealand look upon it that we have a solemn duty to perform in upholding those great traditions which you in England in the past have built up for the British nation—those great traditions of which we have heard during the last few days. (Hear, hear.), I know nothing that will touch the hearts of New Zcalanders more keenly than the record of the brilliant darin<r and courage of those who lost their lives at the South Pole. We look upon Scott, ns a part of New Zealand, and we believe that we have as much right and as great a share in what he has helped to do with regard to adding to your traditions as von yourselves have in the Mother Country. ((Hear, hear.) I believe it is this which links us so closely together, that feeling that the people lirvp from whom we have come ln-c left us a portion, at am- rate, to do in j the fnHire. T think th-it we ]>•<••» done someHiinir mi mv coni'irv to add to vow tr«iliHoi>«." THE TEST OF THE BTHTNITKR.

Mr. Allen sn.id ho alwa-s romomb"red bettor than ni>'-tlrn<r el«" in "Whore Tin-"" Empires Meet." tint sentence in which H was said Hint H\<> natives Always thouoht of the Britisher as the man they could relv on to receive jti*,tice on all occasions. He knew of in greater compliment that could be paid to nnv nation than that. (Applause.) Need he sa>- that we had added to this tradition of the treatment of native races in Xew Zealand. We had taken into brotherhood with us. Tftov were, one with us. They came to our Parliament and our Executive Councils;; and sat with us in the secrecy of the; Cabinet. (Hear, hear.) We could take them no closer. We looked upon thorn as brothers, and if in some respects we ha-d failed in the past it was not for want of willingness to do right, but out of ignorance as Jo the right course to follow. They intended to moke the condition of the Maori even better than it was. and no nation would be able to point the finger of scorn at Now Zealand so far as our dealings with the native race were concerned. (Loud applause.) In making an appeal for immigrants, Mr. Allen said he did not believe even Canada could offer the opportunities for men of the agricultural class that New Zealand did. and there was also an assured future for English women in domestic service. THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEFENCE. Speaking as one partially representing New Zealand on that occasion— (Mr. Allen evidently referred to the presence on the chairman's left of Sir Joseph Ward)—ho continued:—"There is no greater responsibility resting oh the shoulders of any Britishers than that of the defence of their own country, the defence of their freedom, and of' those institutions which have done so much for us, and which we all ought to be

proud of. (Hear, hear.) It is not for me to boast of what New Zealand Ims done in the past. 1 believe that we have taken, at any rate, some small share in upholding the stability of tlie Jintwu Empire. (Loud applause.) What we have done has been done readily and willingly. Jt might seem a sacrifice on pur part, but it was more than willingly made, and should we be called upon at any time by the needs and necessities of the Mother Land to make a similar sacrifice, I venture to say 'tint no New Zealander will sav ''No."'(Loud applause.) But I want to tell yon here, that though we have made this sacrifice, and we realise the effect it must have both here and amongst other nations which may be now or in the future antagonistic to you, I think tint the thinking New Zealander has come to the conclusion that a spasmodic effort of that kind is not the only thing they ought to offer towards Empire and Empire consolidation. (Hear, h"ar.l f believe we have to do something more yet in New Zealand. So I believe it is our duty to face these responsibilities, the responsibilities of the future, and that we must do something permanent in the way of our share in the defence of the Empire. applause.) I do not want to go into any detail, but I do want to sav what is in my mind at any rate, and it is this, that'l do not believe you can ask the people of these outlying Dominions to make the sacrifices which they must in their share of Empire defence, without an appeal to their own national spirit. (Applause). I do not say that to you with the idea of suggesting that the national spirit will grow with the intention of creating anything like separate nationality. Far from it. But there is the means at the disposal of your people in this Mother Land if you wilt help it. This national spirit, if cultivated and led as I think it ought to be led, will bring these outlying Dominion* of the Empire to make" greater sacrifices than they have yet made to help in the work of Empire defence. (Hear, hear.) THE CREDIT OF AUSTRALIA.

"Australia has made a greater sacrifice than anyone of us has nude. (Applause.) You may not, some of you, approve of the Australian policy, but I, who have just come through Australia and have looked at what they hare done from the point of view of an outsider, can unhesitatingly say that Australia has made a huge sacrifice. Perhaps some of you may think that it was m ber own interests. Well, it may be; but if I judge right—and I think t do—those interests are inseparably tied up with the interests of the Empire. (Loud applause.) I do not think that Australia lias any other desire than the desire to do her full gare in the pro-' tection of the Empire as a whole. (Hear, hear.) I would ask the people of this country to utilise the spirit which has led Australia to do so much in the in* terests of the consolidation of the Empire. There is no man here who can say that Australia is going back on tlw programme she has launched herself out upon. Ido not believe she will. But if that spirit is used as it ought to be used, I venture to assert that it will bt the strongest tie to bind us together than can possibly be conceived. (Applause.) If on the other hand you let it drift and let them go their own waj and do not help them, then I do not Sow what the future may produce. ear, hear, and loud applause.)