PREMIER IN THE SOUTH

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1060, 24 February 1911, Page 6

PREMIER IN THE SOUTH

SPEECH AT DUNEDIN. ; : THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. Bly Telegraph.—Press A6soclatlon.l , ... . Dunediri/'l'cbruary 23.. The Garrison Hall..was filled by over IGOO peoplo this evening, on tho occasion of the citizens''farewell to Sir Joseph Ward prior to his leaving for England. The .Mayor (.Mr. T. Cole) presided. After a brief address of welcomo by tho Mayor, a resolution of n fitting nature was moved by_Mr. G. H. Ritchie, chairman of the (Jnamber of Commerce,' and seconded by Mr. J. London, president'of tho-Agricul-tural and Pastoral Society, and supported by Mr. W., Barclay, chairman of the Harbour Board, and Mr. J. H. Hocking, K.C., on behalf of • the- citizens. In moving tho motion, Mr. Ritchie said' Sir Joseph Ward Was a' fitting representative of-tho Dominion, and his presence would lend weight and dignity to the important gathering to which he was going. To Sir Joseph and Lady. Ward they extended every .wish lor "God-speed and safe return.". The resolution, which was carried by acclamation, was couched iu the following terms:—"That, oh behalf ami in tho name of the citizens of-Duncdin, wo desire to extend to Sir Joseph and Lady ■Ward most hearty welcomo on tho eve of their departure for England, and further, wish the Prime Minister and Minister for Defence • God-speed and success in his mission as- representative of tho-peoplo of New . Zealand at the King's Coronation and the Prime Ministers' Conference, • feeling confident, that on all questions affecting the welfare of tho Dominion, and in all matters making for tho advancement and solidarity of tho British Empire,, we will ba ably and faithfully represented by him." lu.reply, Sir Joseph Word, after suitably thanking citizens for tho farewell extended to him in his official capacity, proceeded .to speak along, Imperial lines, mainly in reference to defence. Ho said the peoplo in all portions of tho Einpiro should'show the whole world that the Empire was one, not only in timo of peace, but' also one' in times of war. One of the difficulties to' bo found in Imperial conforenco'at present was that there was no machinery in existence for carrying out of decisions arrived at. A conference without power which' would enable them to move as one solid body was, perhaps, not complete, but tho fact remained that such a. gathering of men must ensure a' very large' amount of good.' Side bjj sido with tho Democratic feeling of Now Zealand there existed a distinct feeling that we could not live and preserve the future of this country unless wo wero Imperialistic too. No section had so much to fear in the ovont of defeat, on the seas as the workers of New Zealand/ Forewarned was to bo forearmed, arid'if we wanted to insure in years lo como the preservation, of these countries we must either .help tho British Navy, as we had done already, or establish our own' navy. Ono of tho most important things to bo done at the Imperial • Conference was the matter of how to preserve intact tho scattered portions of tho Empire by means of .the control of tho British Navy. Tho timo iniist came and assuredly, would come by some means or other when the Empire would bo focused into some, limited sphere whero limited action on tho'part of the peoplo might-bo taken in whatever direction appeared to bo best calculated to conserve" great interests under the control of tho respective Governments.. Coming to Dominion matter's hesaid we wanted tho' peoplo at Homo to "realise that when' measures affecting largo r interests hero, were required -to ,bc held -for Royal consent,' New Zealand "wanted to hnvo some influence. Ho referred in this connection to tho troublesome matter of coloured crews.' New Zealand wanted tho Old Land to realise that -yhe wanted to prevent any mixture of raco here. The ancstion was whether the lascars of Inia were to compote with tho white men, receiving Arbitration Court wages. At last conference a. policy, of universal naturalisht!on.j,was proposed, but defeated. Ho had opposed .this, and belioycd it was right that it shoulHlnot be.carried in New Zealand. 'The only l , power that should boUible ;;'to sny, what races should be naturalised' and .under what conditions was the Government of tho day., He believed there would be a genuirio effort to' secure uniformity of law in deal ing with matters of common concern and dealing with many aspects of social legislation placed on the Statute Book in late years. In conclusion Sir Joseph Ward said he was a believer in results; it was no use having conferences and then hnvo resolutions pigeon-holed.. Therp must como some means of placing tho resolutions in motion and of machinery. : rio was very proud of tho fact that the Attorney-General (whose legal reputation was at least equal to that of any other gentleman in Now Zealand) was accompanying him. Leaving New Zealand for a few months'ho recognised ho was leaving it at n timo of prosperity as he had been' up and down t!:e country of late. He must confess that never in his timo in Now Zealand had ho found the people in such good heart or found such widespread prosperity permeating tho community from end to end! t He. honed it would contipuo to be as successful as indications wero promising. ,-.'