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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.