OUR EMPIRE

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 4 June 1923, Page 9

OUR EMPIRE

And Its Primary Production CREATION OF WEALTH Resources of Our Vast Areas There is much talk about the Empire at Home just now. Statesmen and newspapers are each having their say. Colonel Amery on migration and Empire distribution; and the London Daily Telegraph on Empire wireless, in addition to talk on the Wavy which appears in another column were the chief subjects discussed in Britain during the week end.

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT Colonel Ame-ry .speaking' at Oriel College, Oxford, said that, slowly but surely it was- coming home to the people that the certain hope of recovery from after effects of war was tlm development of the resources of the Commonwealth, within the Empire. We had all the factors, material and human, for the creation of wealth on a scale which would make even the burden of War indebtedness seem insignificant. The existing distribution ,of population resulted! if? a lack of balance between primary production and industry which accentuated tbs uncertainty of economic conditions, •in the Home Country. The- British Empire in the main had not grown up by conquest. There were 50,QU0,0U0 people hi

LONDON. these islands, not because, but in spite of the fact that there were another 50,000,000 of British descent outside, who represented past emigration. The present 50,000,001) were more than could be supported under present conditions, hut there was no reason why we should not support oven more. If we could send 1,000,000 to the Dominions to create conditions under which those left behind could flourish, and increase with every new settlement, England would secure fresh supplies of raw material and foodstuffs as well as fresh markets. Consequently she would be; ablo to support a larger population at Home. Colonel Anary finally quoted figures showing the importance of the Dominions.

The Great Wireless Chain.

The “Daily Telegraph,” in a leading* article on the tangle regarding' the . Empire- wireless chain lists the succession of postmasters general who _ have handled the matter, which it describes as a record of Imperial humiliation and asks what account can be given the Imperial Conference and recounts the steps taken hv Dominions themselves. It proceeds : _ The post-master-general, looking into the matter, cannot, fail to be impressed with the opposition which lias developed in the Dominions to his department handling the problem. They are weeded to private enterprise, but we recognise that on private enterprise must be placed some

measure of restraint. To what extent the Government remains a free agent, in view ot the action of South Africa and Australia and Canada, is debatable, but provision must he made for the Government, assuming complete control in the event ot The “Daily Telegraph” sug-o-ests a, British Dominion Government Institute Tt ire-less Board somewhat resembling the Pacific Cable Board, if any progress is to he made. There must he a fresh start, ignoring the controversies and .jealousies of the past 12 years which have been largely wasted. The hour has struck for action.