PROGRESS OF THE EMPIRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16572, 3 November 1921, Page 7

PROGRESS OF THE EMPIRE.

NEED FOR CO-OPERATION. By Tele?rapli--Prc-Bi» AfißOciation-Copyripht. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 3. 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, November 2. Mr Winston Churchill, speaking at the Empire Parliamentary Association, paid a tribute to the dominions’ services, not only in, the war. but in the councils of the Empire. He said : “ For years the growing movement towards unity of the Em jure has been retarded by lack of effective links of communication between the leading, politicians and responsible persons in England and the leaders of the great overseas dominions. They used to visit London towards the close of the last century, staying months, and hardly the slightest notice was taken of their presence. They had not friends to put them in touch with our political life, and went away feeling that, though England might be a wonderful organisation of society and life, yet it was one from which they were detached. Although for many years the title deeds of the Empire will be deposited at Westminster, we are bound in policy t-o attune ourselves to the wishes and needs of the overseas dominions now that they* come as brothers to fight in our armies, take a hand in our affairs and return to th© dominions with an added store of knowledge and experience gathered in this great community. England also reaps the greatest advantages. It is an enormous help for members of the House of Commons to go overseas and find themselves similarly placed and officially recognised in relation to the dominions’ affairs. The more this progress continues, the more rapid will be our progress towards the highest unification.” England, continued th© speaker, could not possibly continue alone. It could not bo pretended that this Parliament was in sole control of the great common policy of the Empire. An Imperial Parliament alone made great decisions affecting the Empire, but those days were past. We cannot possibly continue except by co-operation of the units which have grown under the British Crown. We must march forward hand in hand with them. This can only be done by constant intercourse between representatives of our and their Parliaments. Unless there is close and continual spread of unity by intercourse of opinions, it will be impossible to work out an Empire policy. Every year was a year of importance, but lie believed that the coming year would see development favourable to the strengthening of the ties between the far-flung sections of the British race. . Mr J. H. Whitley (Speaker of the House of Commons) referred to tho good results that accrued through overseas representa fives expressing their views before the Parliamentary Association which was considering invitations for a visit by its members to the Indian and African Parliaments. Visits from parliament to parliament were bound to be of the greatest use.