The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1909. THE STRENGTH OF EMPIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2581, 16 August 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1909. THE STRENGTH OF EMPIRE.

Speaking at a reception in Glasgow one of the Canadian members of the Imperial Press Conference rather astounded his hearers' by declaring that a single riding of one of the Canadian provinces could grow sufficient wheat to keep Great Britain supplied. In justification of his statement he pointed out that whereas Great Britain and Ireland grew 50,000,000 bushels of wheat annually and imported 150,000,000 more the single riding of Medicine Hat in the Western Province of Alberta had an area of fertile soil sufficient to grow 200,000,000 bushels of wheat annually. The remainder of his remarks under this head are thus reported in the Glasgow “Herald”:

“He was aware that we also imported a certain quantity of flour, hut it was safe to say that two of their constituencies could give Great Britain and Ireland all the bread;, they ate m a year. That would give them some idea of the possibilities of the Dominion of Canada. Australia was another Canada, and the numerous constituencies of South Africa in the confederation of their brothers of South Africa—(applause) —averaged in size 20,000 square miles. When they considered such enormous dimensions, started and settled so far bv people of the best stock by peopie of the English-speaking, Frenchspeaking, Dutch, and Scandinavian races —virile people —when they thoiight of what might he the future of those lands in partnership with the British Empire, what might not that future be. He was one of those Canadians who joined to a Canadian patriotism, in which they yielded to none (hear, hear) —the hope, the fervent hope, that the future of Canada would be a part of the future of Great Britain. (Applause.) Those British Isles and Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and all the other British dominions would grow together hand in hand, partners m a political alliance the details of which they could not see for the moment, and which they did not need to.”

There is a fine ring of true imperialism .in these remarks, and the sentiment so admirably expressed is worthy of the utmost commendation. There is no doubt that the British Empire can, if it chooses, be absolutely independent, and if goaded by the constantly increasing attacks of commercial rivals to take retaliatory action the united strength of a mighty aggregation of States could achieve almost anything.