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the world. Those predictions have been falsified. (Cheers.)
In spite of everything that has been said, London is to-day the
financial centre not only of the Empire but of the world,
May that long continue to be the case. I believe it will be
the case for many centuries to come. (Cheers.) I want, if
I may, to say a few words about the speech of Sir Roger Keyes
in responding to the Toast of the Navy. I have just as
much respect for the fighting forces of the Empire-—the Navy,
Army and Air Force—as any other man here to-night, and
Sir Roger Keyes’ speech particularly appealed to me, coming
as I do from a young country in which the inhabitants are
possessed of the maritime instincts just as strongly as the
people of Great Britain itself. (Cheers.) I come from a
country in which every citizen has ‘‘ the salt” in his blood, and
in which this country is represented in its Governor-General
by one of the greatest sailors Britain ever produced, Admiral
Lord Jellicoe. (Cheers.) We all know perfectly well that
Britain was built up by sea power, and that the very existence
of the Empire depends upon sea power; and it is your
business and mine to see that sufficient naval protection is
afforded to the British Empire and to make it absolutely
certain that it will be faced with no danger in years to come.
Before I go any further, allow me to thank His Grace the
Duke of Devonshire and the President of the Board of Trade
for the complimentary remarks they have made with regard to
myself and what little I have been able to do in the past.
The time will come, of course, when I shall have to give place
to younger men. (“ Never.” Laughter.) Yes, the time will
come, but it is not coming yet. (Laughter and Cheers.) But
when it does come there are many young men in New Zealand
who are actuated by the same spirit of loyalty to the Empire
who are able to carry out this duty better than I have been
able to do it; so that when the time comes I shall have no
hesitation in handing over the mantle to somebody who will be
more fitted to bear it than I have been in the past. There are
very few people to-day who think of the tremendous responsi:
bilities that we, as representative citizens of the Empire, have
with regard to the 450 million citizens of the Empire. They
forget of what the Empire consists—first of all the senior
partner—and may it be the senior partner for all time—Great
Britain; then the six Dominions of the Empire; then the
thirty-eight Protectorates and Crown Colonies, and last, but
by no means least, the great Empire of India. (Cheers.)
When the destinies of the Empire were trembling in the
balance, India rendered brilliant service to the Empire, and
although they are men of a different race they did things
which we, and other citizens of the Empire, can never forget.