The Wanganui Chronicle. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4. 1935. ICELAND’S FUTURE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4. 1935. ICELAND’S FUTURE

yHE movement reported from Iceland, which lias for its aim the disassociating of that country from Denmark and its inclusion in the British Empire, will raise some very interesting issues. These issues, however, cannot be appreciated until the Icelandic background is sketched in. Iceland was first discovered in the ninth century by adventurers from the British Isles, probably Scots or Irish, but they made no move to settle the country. About seventy years latci. it was rediscovered by Norwegians, who completed the settlement of the island in sixty years. An aristocratic republic was formed and the country was established as a separate entity. In 1262-64 the Icelanders acknowledged the sovereignty of the King of Norway, but when Norway came under the dominance of Denmark, Iceland shared the same fate. In the year 1814, by the Peace of Vienna, Denmark had to give up Norway, but Iceland was overlooked, because, it was said, the negotiators at Vienna knew not of the existence of Iceland. Iceland, therefore, continued under the rule of the Danish King. Throughout its carlj’ history Iceland had its own Parliament, known as the Althing, but in the year 1800 this was abolished. The nationality of Iceland was by this act assured, for the inhabitants never ecased to remember their former independence. Highly intelligent and hardy, these people have an extensive literature ol their oivn, their vernacular writings exceeding that of any other people in Europe. This false step in 1800 on the part of the Danish King was sought to be remedied in 1874, when he gave the Icelanders a new constitution. This was modified in 1903 and in 1915, but concessions were not enough, and a healthy nationalist movement continued in the life of the community. The constitution of 1918 recognised Iceland as a sovereign State, it being united with Denmark only through the identity of the sovereign. This foreshadowed a similar development which was subsequently established by the Statute of Westminster, whereby the Dominions of the British Empire became independent States with a common sovereign. By the Act of Union the order of succession is not to be altered without the assent of both States. By the same Act Denmark was required to inform the Powers that she recognises Iceland as a sovereign State, and this she did. The Act of Union also provides that after December 31, the Danish Parliament and the Icelandic Legislature may demand that negotiations be opened up for the revision of the Act. Constitutionally then, there appears to be very little in the way of Iceland achieving her desire to withdraw from her allegiance to the Danish sovereign. The association with Denmark as a State is more of a liaison connection, an advisory DanishIcelandic Committee of eight members having been appointed Io review Bills of importance to both States, and also to prepare Bills aiming at co-operation between the two States. Two countries which have developed co-operation so successfully can be depended upon to break the nexus with as much facility and as little fuss as did Norway and Sweden when they mutually broke their union in the year 1905. According to the present Statute, dissolution of the union between Denmark and Iceland can only be accomplished by a majority of two-thirds ■in Parliament and a three-quarters majority in a referendum. This is a safeguard provision because in so important an issue the decision should be backed by a substantial majority. The population is, however, likely to provide a requisite majority if the secession movement gets under way, for there is a remarkable degree of unanimity existing which is made manifest by the religious census. Almost the whole population belongs to the Established Evangelical Lutheran Church, the number of dissenters in 1920 numbered only 463. This is probably due to the purity of the racial stock. . On the political side there does not appear to be any reason ivliy Iceland should break with Denmark and join with the I nited Kingdom, but on the economic side there is more ground lor such a move. At one time the export trade was confined to Copenhagen, but the trade with the United Kingdom has developed, more and more since the middle of the last century. The principal support of the islanders is livestock raising and fishing. The wool and the livestock are sold in Scotland and England. If the United Kingdom’s present policy ol restricting foreign exports is continued this major market is likely to be seriously affected, and the Icelanders probably feel that they would be better treated were they within the Empire’s fold. On the other hand lhe fish market is chiefly found in Spain, and that country forced Iceland to abandon the prohibition of lhe sale of liquor by threatening to cut her off from the Spanish market for her sales of codfish. The action was keenly resented by the Icelanders for what it was, an unwarranted piece of economic bullying of a more advanced country. Had Iceland been part of the British Empire Spain would not, in all probability, have taken such a line of conduct, which outraged the world and created a had impression in international circles. It certainly established a dangerous precedent. The British people would lie lotlic to take any action which would offend the sentiment, of the Danes, but it is possible that Denmark would realise that Iceland could hardly exist to-day without the United Kingdom market, and that Denmark herself would not he able to absorb the products shut, out by England.

Low New Zealand Salaries “New Zealand must learn Io pay. and pay well.’’ said Dr. Bernard Myers during a luneheo naddress to the Overseas Club in Auckland when referring to the poor inducements to New Zealand Rhodes Scholars to return to the Dominion. “Most Rhodes Scholars leave these shores never to return,’’ ho said. “Instead, they should be absorbed here in industry, education and affairs of government. But the salaries are disgracefully low.’’ Dr, Myers said lie did not know ol' any other country in the world where university professors of equal eminence were

i Loudspeakers in Train | A loudspeaker was installed in each . compartment of the train which conI veyed Hamilton railway employees to their annual picnic nt the Mount, Tauranga, on Bunday. Thu system was ! Jinked up with an amplifier in the > guard’s van. which relayed music supplied by an orchestra and gramophone recordings. Altogether there were ' loudspeakers, providing music tor 18 carriages. Picnickers expressed them- ’ selves as grateful for this means of reliefing the tedium of a long journey. The system was installed anti controlled ’ bv Air. G. S. Anchor, Hamilton.