A NEW ZEALANDER IN ENGLAND.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1053, 16 February 1911, Page 3

A NEW ZEALANDER IN ENGLAND.

IMPERIAL COLONIAL PARTY. THE RECENT ELECTION. After an absence from Christchurch of over eighteen months, most of which timo was spent in Englnnd, Dr. Lcvinge, formerly medical Kupcrintßiidctit of Sunnysido Mcntnl Hospital, relumed to Hint , city last week. Dr. Lcvinge took a very keen interest in Imperial politics whilo at Home, and had (he rather unique experience, of being in England whilo two elections worn decided. Ho told n_ "Press" reporter to-day Hint, ho was cruelly interested in tho organisation of tho Imperial colonial party, which played a very considerable part in tho Inst eketion, under the iinino of tho Imperial Mission. Ho was in England during the election in Jnnunry, 1010, nnd ho renliwil then the impossibility of doinj anything to help tho colonial preference movement unless thero was somo organisation. .Dr. I.ovmgo suggested the formation of nn Imperial colonial organisation, and though there were initial difficulties of somo magnitude, they wcro successfully overcome. The work of organisation was taken up by Mr. Pago Croft, member for Christchurch, Hampshire, a strong Imperialist, and an energetic and enthusiastic worker. Ho arrangod to get peoplo from the oversea Dominions to deliver addresses on subjects like Imperial preference nnd Impsrinl defence, not from a party point of viow, but from the point of vion- of thn colonic*. Thero was a very great deal of ignorance -of tho aspirations and views of tho col6nies in regard to subjects of Empire intere;/,. and the now organisation was-formed to voice thoso views and aspirations. At first tho speakers who wcro called Imperial pioneers" found great difficulty in getting any hearing at their meetings, •as they were looked upon as cniissnrics of tho Tariff Reform League, and purely party speakers. It was then suggested by Dr. Lovingo that' the colonials at Homo should k« organised into a party, and it was agreed that this party should be at tho back of the Imperial pioneers. It was then represented, that if the speakers had a colonial paity behind thciii they would bo listened to. Ihis view was amply justified, andthorenfter the speakers got excellent hearings. Among the speakers wero several New /calenders, Australians, and Canadians, 0110 of the New Zealanders • being Sir \Yllllam., Russell, who addressed ' two meetings at Leeds. Somo hundreds of meetings' wero held in all parts of tho country,' but chiefly in Yorkshire. The speakers wcro intimately acquainted with their subjects, and spoke from, any platform where they wero acceptable, ■ irrespectivo of party. The peoplo were eager to hear tho colonial speakers, and tho nudienccs might number anything from threo or four hundred up to a thousand and more. The plan worked out in a most encouraging fashion, and in constituencies where members wero opposed to Tariff Reform, as far as preference to tho colonies.was concerned, the majorities were very" considerably Teduced. The organisation frequently had renewed applications for speakers to give further addrescs. Dr. Lentigo added that' tho new party is still in existence, nnd ho is in hopes that it will grow into a bigger thing.'Mr. Pago Croft, to whom it owes so much, was the originator k of tbo "Reveille movement" which caused a great sensation in England, and was in tho nature of a trumpet call to his party. Dr. Levingo attended many political meetings at Home, nnd' with Sir Wm. Russell was present at tho Albert Hall when Mr. Balfour made his famous referendum announcement. The demonstration; in the immense building, he aaidj simply beggared description/, ; lt was tho"sight of'n' lifetime 'to tho 'colonials who were present. Dr. Levinge had some comments to offer on New Zealand affairs in London. Ho was extremely surprised when examining the columns which were erected in connection, with tho .Queen Victoria Memorial that there was nothing—to-show that New Zealand had contributed 'Willi.'" The" iiosition \>;as that each contributing Dominion had a column allotted to it, nnd the namo of tho State was shown on the column. New Zealand gavo n> • very largo subscription; and therefore the apparent neuloct struck him all'the more forcibly. He believed it had been announced since ho drew attention ,to the omission that when tho completed memorial wns unveiled it .would bo found that New Zealand had not been forgotten, but the fact remained that during soveral .years post the other contributing Dominions had had their nnmes brought very prominently before tho people by means of these memorial columns,. whilo nothing at all had indicated; New; Zealand's connection with ■tho- niemorUl., r Dr. Levingo added that when he.first mentioned,the subject in the High Commissioner's office, neither Sir William. Hall-Jones nor tho office staff appeared to know anything about it. When ho asked Sir William Hall-Jones why thero was no mention of New ZcaInnd, tho Tcply received was:. "That's what I want to know."

The High Commissioner's office," Dr. I.cvingo found, tois in no respect a centre of Acw Zealand life and interests in'london, and the impression ho cot was that .this Dominion was being left bohind in the race for public favour by tho more pushing and energetic representatives of other parts of tho Empire. Canada was .everywhere, and no opportunitv was lost which gavo that Dominion's officials the chance to bring their country, its products, and manufactures beforo tho public eye. Australia had Sir Geoitre Kcid, who had made this Commonwealth known everywhere, the Australian States had their Apents-Goncral. who were very active in forwarding tho interests of their respective States, more especially Queensland.. Western Australia, and Victoria, which havoofHcesinoraboutthe.City.- The Aew Zealand .Office was completely away from the busy life;of- the Citv. The Dominion was noti advertised cither as enerKotically or as well' us it mieht be. Peoplo railing at tho office found little return for their trouble. Thero vas a distinct lack of tho push and enterprise winch was characteristic of'sonic of the other colonial offices. ' .