Northford
14-02-2008, 16:12
Northfordian Herald
Brookes' Oratory Masterpiece impresses Questers once again.
Despite poor health, ailing mobility and a respiratory infection, Prime Minister Brookes of Northford addressed the Bi-annual Commonwealth meeting at the Imperial Conference House, Jesselton. Here we bring you his short introduction of Lord Henry Whittingham, where he briefly discusses Northford’s history in the Questarian Commonwealth:
“Scientific advancement, industrial might and cultural enlightenment are three things that spring to mind when reviewing the Questarian Commonwealth. When Commonwealth of Northford joined the Crown Imperium of Questers some 40 years there were very few “knowns” in the “equation”. By and large, Northford was a modern, developed country, still reeling from the horrors of a minor civil war and nuclear disaster. The alliance it was a member of, previously the main organ of its foreign policy was visibly straining under weight of numbers and divided internal opinion and it was clear that in order for the citizens of Northford to achieve the standard of living they had ten years previous, trillions of pounds of investment would be needed.
Where did Northford look? Our first and most loyal allies, the Cravanians were the first people we approached for help. They, together with the Questarians, provided thousands of ships for the Commonwealth to move its people to Continentia over 4 years and we invaluable in aiding the first wave of Northfordian settlers. For several months in Northford, the number of Cravanians civil engineers, surveyors, cartographers, scientists, geologists and civil servants actually outnumbered Northfordian citizens. After time, however, it became clear that as developed and economically mighty the Cravanians were, they lacked the industrial might to essentially build a country of three hundred million people from scratch. They had performed their humanitarian duties amicably, and constructed arguably the best ‘Refugee Camps’ in the developed world, as well as constructing hundreds of nuclear powered desalination plants that are still, to this day, servicing Northford, providing us with all of our fresh water needs, and more, allowing us to repay humanity by providing those in Arid conditions with regular shipments of fresh, free water.
Developing industry from scratch is a hard thing to do, and of the countries that Northford had relations with, only two or three had the capacity to do so: Questers and Praetonia being the two prime candidates. The Praetonians, it was deemed would essentially rape Northford, farm its industrial capacity, and reduce Northfordian citizens to mere Subjects of the Praetonian Crown.
Deciding that whatever the alternative was, it had to be better, the Northfordian Government took an opportunistic gamble with the Questarian Government, entering into a unique constitutional relationship.
Our infrastructure was developed, however our natural resources and manpower were not raped or exploited. We were given aid in for our military, while not reduced to mere defence forces or a “Colonial Regiment”. We were expected to give 5% of our Government Budget to the Questarian Government, not through feudal tribute, but owing to the fact that the tax revenue itself was only generated by Questarian investment in the Northfordian Economy. Culturally we were introduced to Questarian Film, Literature, Theatre and Music, not as a substitute for our own, but as an additional supplement to our own Culture designed to enrich our citizens lives. Constitutionally, we were tied, but not as another colony of the Questarian Empire, but with all the dignity and rights that a sovereign state deserves. It was far, far more than an alliance, but far less, and different, to being simply another protectorate of a large, militarily powerful nation.
Forty years on, where are we, as a Nation and Commonwealth? We are industrially mighty, with a strong, independent currency that is pegged, at our own rate, on the Questarian Pound. We no longer give a share of our Government Budget to the Questarian State, recognising that after 40 years we are industrially developed and have paid back much more than the initial Questarian investment. Instead, we lend the Questarian Government a voice in our legislative chamber, recognising that despite our difference on many levels we a common voice. We are still a republic, entitled to represent ourselves on the international state, and despite many a Northfordian Countryman’s cautious fear of a monarchy, for the last twenty years the streets have been filled with raucous cheering whenever our land is graced by the Majestic Questarian Kings.
This is not to say, of course, that our relationship has not had ups and downs. Frequently, in the Questarian Press the Northfordian Commonwealth is derided as lacking substance, being ‘too liberal’ for its own good, while in the Northfordian Press, many a journalist is eager to criticize the Questarians for its rigid class structure, authoritarian ideas and conservative outlook. Despite this, however, two mutual things unite us: Mutual respect for one another’s beliefs and ideas and an overwhelming belief that despite where occasional difference in beliefs, views, systems and outlooks exist, we can accommodate one another, within our own Counties, The Empire and Greater Commonwealth.
Here, I introduce a man who knows very well what differences exist, and who works tirelessly in both Northford, and Questers to ensure a harmonious relationship. Known as the man who worked 36 hour ‘days’ during the uniting of the Questarian-Northford postal systems, and the man who’s unique way of approaching problems not only allowed the Northfordian Government to remedy its manpower shortage, but also allowed the Questarian Government to essentially solve a number of potentially worrying social issues.
Here, Ladies, Gentleman, Lords, Barons, Sirs and Doctors, I present Lord Henry Whittingham, High Delegate of the Questarian Government in the Northfordian Legislative house, and leader of the “Commonwealth Block” in the House of Commons.
Please give him your warm applause.”
Brookes' Oratory Masterpiece impresses Questers once again.
Despite poor health, ailing mobility and a respiratory infection, Prime Minister Brookes of Northford addressed the Bi-annual Commonwealth meeting at the Imperial Conference House, Jesselton. Here we bring you his short introduction of Lord Henry Whittingham, where he briefly discusses Northford’s history in the Questarian Commonwealth:
“Scientific advancement, industrial might and cultural enlightenment are three things that spring to mind when reviewing the Questarian Commonwealth. When Commonwealth of Northford joined the Crown Imperium of Questers some 40 years there were very few “knowns” in the “equation”. By and large, Northford was a modern, developed country, still reeling from the horrors of a minor civil war and nuclear disaster. The alliance it was a member of, previously the main organ of its foreign policy was visibly straining under weight of numbers and divided internal opinion and it was clear that in order for the citizens of Northford to achieve the standard of living they had ten years previous, trillions of pounds of investment would be needed.
Where did Northford look? Our first and most loyal allies, the Cravanians were the first people we approached for help. They, together with the Questarians, provided thousands of ships for the Commonwealth to move its people to Continentia over 4 years and we invaluable in aiding the first wave of Northfordian settlers. For several months in Northford, the number of Cravanians civil engineers, surveyors, cartographers, scientists, geologists and civil servants actually outnumbered Northfordian citizens. After time, however, it became clear that as developed and economically mighty the Cravanians were, they lacked the industrial might to essentially build a country of three hundred million people from scratch. They had performed their humanitarian duties amicably, and constructed arguably the best ‘Refugee Camps’ in the developed world, as well as constructing hundreds of nuclear powered desalination plants that are still, to this day, servicing Northford, providing us with all of our fresh water needs, and more, allowing us to repay humanity by providing those in Arid conditions with regular shipments of fresh, free water.
Developing industry from scratch is a hard thing to do, and of the countries that Northford had relations with, only two or three had the capacity to do so: Questers and Praetonia being the two prime candidates. The Praetonians, it was deemed would essentially rape Northford, farm its industrial capacity, and reduce Northfordian citizens to mere Subjects of the Praetonian Crown.
Deciding that whatever the alternative was, it had to be better, the Northfordian Government took an opportunistic gamble with the Questarian Government, entering into a unique constitutional relationship.
Our infrastructure was developed, however our natural resources and manpower were not raped or exploited. We were given aid in for our military, while not reduced to mere defence forces or a “Colonial Regiment”. We were expected to give 5% of our Government Budget to the Questarian Government, not through feudal tribute, but owing to the fact that the tax revenue itself was only generated by Questarian investment in the Northfordian Economy. Culturally we were introduced to Questarian Film, Literature, Theatre and Music, not as a substitute for our own, but as an additional supplement to our own Culture designed to enrich our citizens lives. Constitutionally, we were tied, but not as another colony of the Questarian Empire, but with all the dignity and rights that a sovereign state deserves. It was far, far more than an alliance, but far less, and different, to being simply another protectorate of a large, militarily powerful nation.
Forty years on, where are we, as a Nation and Commonwealth? We are industrially mighty, with a strong, independent currency that is pegged, at our own rate, on the Questarian Pound. We no longer give a share of our Government Budget to the Questarian State, recognising that after 40 years we are industrially developed and have paid back much more than the initial Questarian investment. Instead, we lend the Questarian Government a voice in our legislative chamber, recognising that despite our difference on many levels we a common voice. We are still a republic, entitled to represent ourselves on the international state, and despite many a Northfordian Countryman’s cautious fear of a monarchy, for the last twenty years the streets have been filled with raucous cheering whenever our land is graced by the Majestic Questarian Kings.
This is not to say, of course, that our relationship has not had ups and downs. Frequently, in the Questarian Press the Northfordian Commonwealth is derided as lacking substance, being ‘too liberal’ for its own good, while in the Northfordian Press, many a journalist is eager to criticize the Questarians for its rigid class structure, authoritarian ideas and conservative outlook. Despite this, however, two mutual things unite us: Mutual respect for one another’s beliefs and ideas and an overwhelming belief that despite where occasional difference in beliefs, views, systems and outlooks exist, we can accommodate one another, within our own Counties, The Empire and Greater Commonwealth.
Here, I introduce a man who knows very well what differences exist, and who works tirelessly in both Northford, and Questers to ensure a harmonious relationship. Known as the man who worked 36 hour ‘days’ during the uniting of the Questarian-Northford postal systems, and the man who’s unique way of approaching problems not only allowed the Northfordian Government to remedy its manpower shortage, but also allowed the Questarian Government to essentially solve a number of potentially worrying social issues.
Here, Ladies, Gentleman, Lords, Barons, Sirs and Doctors, I present Lord Henry Whittingham, High Delegate of the Questarian Government in the Northfordian Legislative house, and leader of the “Commonwealth Block” in the House of Commons.
Please give him your warm applause.”