Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of A Century.] THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1911. NEW ZEALAND'S FUTURE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 9894, 26 January 1911, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of A Century.] THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1911. NEW ZEALAND'S FUTURE.

What will eventually become of New Zealand? Will these islands, isolated in the Southern Pacific, and already watched hungrily by the crowded A3iatic nations on the other side of the Equator, pass into the possession of a foreign power, wrested away from the British Empire some day when Britaiu is engaged in th 9 inevitable life aud death struggle between the great nations of the earth? Or will we remain a part of the Empire, each decade bringing greater prosperity, an increased population, more marked industrial enterprise? Or will the Dominiou become the home of a numerous, industrious, virile race, claiming partial, if not complete, independence, entertaining its owu ambitions as a nation, hoping to one day take a not too iusiguificant place in the world's ali'airs? These are speculations indulged in at some time by every mau; and each has his own pst theories, and his own way of readiug the signs. And, as none can pull aside the veil of the future, we cau only continue to speculate, and listen to the dicta of our wiße men. The opinions on this subject which have been expressed by Professor J. MacMillan Brown, of Christchurch, are more than a little interesting. This well known scientist—who has done some world-wandering—believes that within a generation there is going to be a great struggle between the nations, and that tlie Paoific Ocean is going to be the 09ntre, first of commercial enterprise, then of war. The industries of the world, he says, are getting into the hands of the nations with the greatest war departments,, and to this there can only be one end. New Zealand now seams far removed from the centre of the world's happenings, but very soon, according to the Professor, we are to witness great events, ""aud become involved in world-wido movements. The nations are already conscious of the importance of the Pacific Oceau in connection with the coming fight for supremacy, and they have been trying to secure front sections ou its land surfaoes. Thus "this country, instead

of. being the .tail, would become the j shield, of the British Empire, when j there was waged the final struggle in human history—the Armageddon from whioh would be evolved the federation of mankind, aud the consummation of peace. Those who wanted peace at once had their common sense obsoured by their great ideals'." Ho urged upon all Britons the necessity for putting our defonoes in order, of making ourselves ready to face any contingency."lf the British Empire— and we as part of that Empire—is not prepared for that struggle, we shall be trampled under foot by an auotocraoy—the greatest disaster that could befall mankind, for- the British Empire is the guardian of human liberty." He declared that the statement that Britain was losing her commercial position was a German manufacture. Let them turn back the pages of history to the end of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth centuries, and they would Hud at that time a belief in the decadence of Britain. Yet the decadent Britain had built up a commerce aud au Empire such as tha world had never seen before. He had very few doubts about the struggle that was before them.