A HISTORIC DAY JANUARY 21 1944.

Dozerdust, Volume 2, Issue 18, 20 May 1944, Page 5

A HISTORIC DAY JANUARY 21 1944.

THE Chicago ” Tribune ” described the Canberra Ag re nt as p ambitious . It is more than that® it is moulded on heroic scale a-gd touch with clas sic a 1 greatness » The region covers from New Guinea to the Gilberts, and.from the Gilberts to the Chatham Islands, The arc a in square miles makes New Zealand look like a village park, and the number of people involved reduces N.Z. p^ppla t i Ql i to a pin point by compare i son. Nevertheless N« Z. and Australia have -undertaken to act as Godfathers to this vast area ano group of peoples who

differ amongthemselves in history and culture The experience of the Kiwis in the South Pa ci id area should give th-, so? conception of the gap thb separates New Zealand’s social life from that o. the -islander

THS COST.,

THE tw ' Govts. J. be advised by a ”. South Seas Regional Commissio which will deal with all matters of trade, native and military strategy. This means that N e Zea land will have to divert some of the best of her administrators from demestic affairs to that of the Commission; she wll have to devote a portion of her national income t the islands, and not. expect material’ returns for the outlay for some years; she will, have to supply her quota of an navy and air force lor a number of years A She w? have to supply engineer.

and workmen to c struct roads and buhl di) This may lead. to a deerin social legislation a.

perhaps a lowering of t.. standard of livings It will certainly moan a me serious approach to you? social and economic aff« airs, If your average citizen in the future de

N.Z. DONS LONG TROUSDBS mot take an active interest in his country, ho will have to take the consequences and do as he is . told.. This will apply to all countries after the was?, but will apply with strike ing force to N.Z, and Australia in view of the comini tteent s of the Canberra Agreement. WHAT HAS TO ADDZD.

THE second point on which I wish to touch is

that in the past N.Z. and Australia ( like the USA) have, lived within the shadow of the British Navy; this has bean your protection. But this war Mis shown that neither the British

jfegy, nor any other, can *bein all places at once. You have learnt that individually you have to be strong in the future; not only for your own benefit, i but also in fairness- to! the Empire of •which’ you are a part, Y ou have now entered the years ! of maturity*- you have ’

lined long trousers. j This is implicit in the Agreement; it is the emergence of a new I factor in the Pacific. |