CLOSER UNITY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18903, 19 January 1927, Page 11

CLOSER UNITY.

FEELING IN THE EMPIRE. ADDRESS BY MR COATES. (BY CAELE—PS ESS AiSOCIATJCS— COFIHIGHT.) (AUSTEALIAK AS3 K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) OTTAWA, January 17. In stressing the need for developing inter-Empire trade particularly between Canada and the Antipodes, m an address to the Canadian Club at Toronto to-day, Mr Coates also dealt with Imperial policy. He said that the great mass of the people throughout the Dominions favoured binding the Empire still closer. "There was no desire on the part of anyone at the Conference to pull away or break up any portion of the Empire," lie said. "Our task is to improve communications. e should set about to arrange an interehang? of opinions between the representatives of the various Dominions. lam referring particularly to the political, not the economic side. It is only a question of understanding. There is no people more fitted to deal with as they come up than those of British stock. It seems to me that those who talk about the breaking up of the Empire well, it seems that the wish is father to the thought. But the great mass of the people desire to maintain (he bonds ot Empire." _ Mr Coates referred to New Zealand s attractions to tourists and the loyalty of the Maoris to the Crown. He said: "The country's most valued asset is the people themselves. They are JJ per cent. British." The New Zealand Prime Minister concluded with a reference to commercial relations, stating: "All a (xovernment can do is just to clear the way by removing any Tittle obstacle tja may arise, but any real responsibility rests with the manufacturers themselves. '' SEEKING TRADE AGREEMENT. (AUSTEALIAK and n.z. cable association.) (Beceivcd January 18th, 10.35 p.m.) OTTAWA, January 18. Before leaving Toronto for Winnipeg last 'night Mr Coates had a conference with the Federal Minister for Trade and Commerce, the Hon. Mr Malcolm. It is understood that the subject of the discussion was a J trade agreement between Canada and New Zealand, and more favourable to New Zealand than the present arrangement.