AUSTRALIAN BANQUET.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 832, 2 June 1910, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN BANQUET.

BRITISH LOANS. PROSPERITY OF THE WESTERN STATE. My TelegraDh-l'resa Asdociatlon-OoDrrlKhl London, May 31. The Australian High Commissioner, Sir George Reid, presided over the Western Australian banquet at the Trocadero. There were 200 guests present, including Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford (ex-Governor of Western Australia), the Australian Agents-General, tho lion. 1 ,, . 11. Piesse, M.L.C. .(Western Australia), Messrs. Doolette, Nivison, and Moreing, unci bankers, merchants, ship-owners and financiers. Lord Gosehen proposed the toast "The Empire." Mr. M. L. Moss, K.C., M.L.C, of Western Australia, replied. Sir George Reid proposed tho health of Mr. Newton Moore (Premier) and "Western Australia." Mr. Rason (formerly Agent-General of Western Australia) proposed "The ChairROYAL INTEREST IN OVERSEAS PEOPLES. CAPITAL AND EMPIEE. (Rec. June 1, 9.30 p.m.) London, June 1. Referring at the banquet to the Western Australian 3J per cent. loan of .£1,342,000 (now being raised at a minimum of about SG|), Sir Geo. Reid said that Australia, if put to it, could find its own money for all its needs, but the more British capital was converted into Australian securities, the better it was for the British capitalist, Australia, and the Empire. . Mr. Newton Moore, referring to' the loan, said Australia would come to London during the next year or two for four or five millions. Western Australia was now more solidly and genuinely prosperous than in the balmiest days of the gold boom. Ho instanced wheat production, and said that soon Western Australia, would share with Tasmania the world's fruit markets. The immediate pressing necessity was population'. Mr. Moore added that his last audience with the late King had revealed to him tho profound interest King Edward took in the overseas Dominions, his intimate knowledge even of such a remote State as Western Australia, and . his active sympathy with their ambitions and aspirations. Two of the last hoars of King Edward's life were given to the services of the overseas Empire. King George, who had received him as Princo of Wales, was a.great Imperialist. No one. knew better or understood better the overseas people. ["Beware of dinners, or they'll wear you to death," was the advice given to Sir George Reid from two exalted quarters when he arrived in England a little while ago as High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia. "Sir George (remarks the "Daily Mail") was grateful for the advice, but he always forgets to follow it. He is, however, quite surprised by the rate at which British hospitality travels." The "Mail" here gives a list of festive fixtures, and hopefully remarks: "In attending all these functions Sir George considers that he is fulfilling a duty to the Commonwealth."]