304 Royal Colonial Institute. 



ofl&cial visit to South Africa or Australia as from a visit to Canada, perhaps more. 

 Canada is more closely in touch with you, nearer to you. There is growng, in all 

 these outlying Dominions, a sentiment and a local patriotism which, I believe, we 

 have to use and use in the right direction, and then v/e may contemplate with serenity 

 the question of Empire consolidation. If that sentiment and that local patriotism 

 are not used as they ought to be, I should have doubts with regard to the future of 

 the Empire. My own firm conviction is that, right!)'' used, this local sentiment and 

 patriotism will lead to the consolidation of one of the greatest Empires the world 

 has ever seen. I venture to suggest, therefore, that it would be a wise thing if Mr. 

 Boose or some other official member of the Institute could pay a visit to Australia as 

 well as to South Africa. We live under dillerent conditions in those far away parts of 

 the Empire — different even from the conditions which apply at the present moment, 

 at any rate, to Canada. We are going through certain stages of development. 

 Australia has gone even further than Canada to-day in certain directions. In New 

 Zealand we have made one important step towards Empire consolidation. I do 

 not think anything would satisfy our people until we have adopted a permanent 

 policy, some kind of permanent policy which, utilising local sentiment and patriotism, 

 will make eventually to Empire consohdation. I do not think the problem is really 

 a very difficult one ; to me it presents a fascinating study, and I am sure it does 

 to every real and live member of the Institute. With regard to the position of New 

 Zealand, a visit from any of you would undoubtedly do us a great deal of good and 

 I do think it a pity that more members of the Institute cannot find time to come to 

 us and realise on the spot the conditions under which we live and the kind of ideals 

 growing up in these younger coinmunities. With regard to the Journal of this 

 Institute, I think it would be a very good thing if the Editor also could pay a visit 

 to some of these outlying Dominions. I am certain that the Journal would come 

 to be a more living and more real thing to you and to us if the Editor were more 

 closely in touch with us. So, if you can spare him, or somebody who advises him, 

 I think the expense would be very well laid out. The Journal circulates in New 

 Zealand, but I do not think it has the influence in New Zealand or Australia it ought 

 to have. Why, I cannot say ; it is an excellent Journal — a Joiu*nal of u:uch alue 

 to everybody, and 3"et I do think it might be made a more valuable instrument for 

 the furtherance of your work. I think the Joiirnal (the Journal of a rich Institute) 

 ought to be a most powerful instrument in furthering the work before you, A 

 careful study of what the Journal is doing and ought to do is well worth the con- 

 sideration of those who guide the Institute. I do not think it holds the place amongst 

 us in New Zealand and Australia that it ought to hold. I do not want to refer par- 

 ticularly to any other journal — still there is one journal published to-day which is 

 having greater eSect, at least on the thoughts of men vv'ho are Empire students, than 

 even your Journal has. That ought not to be ; yours ought to hold the premier 

 place. I do not say it does not do so to-day, but it is being run very hard indeed by 

 other journals, and there ought to be no c[ue3tion of competition, for your Journal 

 ought to be facile princeps. I believe that in New Zealand and Australia the Institute 

 is growing in popularity. The members are gradually increasing. There are more 

 applications for membership from New Zealand than I have known in previous years. 

 I daresay the corresponding secretaries might conceivably be m.ore vigorous in their 

 efforts, but you know they are men who lead busy lives and have much other work 

 to do. We do our best, but our best is perhaps not all that is to be desired, and a visit 

 from one of your officials would, as I have said, undoubtedly stir us to more vigorous 



