EMPIRE POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1842, 30 August 1913, Page 6

EMPIRE POLITICS.

« NEW ZEALAND'S WELCOME. PARLIAMENTARY LUNCHEON. STRIKING SPEECHES. DEVELOPING IMPERIAL RELATIONS. Kinsmen from overseas havo seldom had a warmer reception ihaiv was accorded by Ministers and members of both Houses of Parliament to Lord Emmott and tlio other of tho United Kingdom branclT of tho Empire Parliamentary Association, who have just concluded a brief tour" of tho Dominion. The function took the form of a luncheon, at which somo 150 persons assembled. Tho Hon. W. F. Masscy (Prime Minister) presided, and ho was supported, on either hand by- the Speaker of tho Legislative Council' (Sir C. C. Bowon), tho Speaker of tho House of Representatives (the Hon. F. W. Lang), Lord Emmott, Mr. D. M'Master, M.P.. Sir Joseph Ward, and tho Hon. Jas. Allen. For tho rest, tho gathering included the members of the Ministry, tlio other British visitors, and nearly all the members of both branches of the Legislature. Mr. A. S. Malcolm, in his capacity of chairman of tlio, local branch of the' Empire Parliamentary Association, exercised a general control over tho arrangements for tho day. Tho proceedings all through were marked by unbroken enthusiasm. Tho speeches commenced at 1.50 p.m., and it was 3.40 p.m. when tho proceedings were at length brought to an eaid. When tho Prime Minister roso to propose "The King," tho first toast when British citizens are assembled round tho festive board, there was loitd applause, and tiio company roso and sang tho "National Anthem." THE PRIME MINISTER. NEW ZEALAND'S WELCOME. Tho Prime Minister next proposed tho toast of "The Visitors." lie assured, his hearers ot the delight he l'elt at having the privilogo or proposing tho health of Lord JSmmott and tho other members of tho, Empire. Parliamentary Association'. (Hear, hear, and applause.) 'l'hoy would liavo been bettor pleased if the visitors could havo remained for a month. Ho had often heard tho opinion expressed that it was a very good tiling for colonial politicians and tho statesmen of tlio Oversea Dominions to visit the heart of tho Empire. If it was a good thing for colonial statesmen to visit tho heart of the Empire, he believed that it was oven moro important for Imperial statcsmon to visit tho Oversea Dominons as their friends were doing that day. (Hear, hear.) After visiting Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa ■ tlio members of tho touring party would havo had personal experience of : tho fact that these were now and' vigorous nations, under the British llag—young and vigorous communities whi<;h.. pherishqd;; tho traditions ; tliat had como down to them from a common ancestry: . (Applause.) Tho citizens of tho Dominions, ho believed 1 , wero as good men as-.over-their fore-, fathers wore—(hear) hear)-r-and they wero i just as ready to mako sacrifices for tho Empiro to which tlioy belonged. (Hear hear, and applause.) They would, if the occasion arose, sacrifice their last chilling, and their last man, to keep tho British flag flying. (Loud and prolonged applause.) They stood for a strong, free and United Empire. (Hear, hear.) He wanted to assure their visitors that afternoon that ho-was expressing not his own opinion only, but that of tlio great majority of British people who lived under tho Southern Cross. (Hear, hoar.) Ho had indicated that, in his opinion, these visits did a very groat deal of good. Tho Imperial Conference. It would be a good thing, ho thought, if tho' Imperial Conference, instead ot' being held always in tho 1 heart of tho Empire, were held occasionally in ono of tho Oversea Dominions. (Hear, hear.) Thoy might bo held ( in Canada, in Australia, South Africa, and not by any means least, in tho Dominion of New Zealand. Ho was not ono of tlioso who thought it advisable or wise to attempt to bring about drastic changes in tho constitution of tlio Empire so far as tho Oversea Dominions wero concerned. (Hear, hear.) Tlio constitution of tlio Empire had grown steadily, if somewhat slowly, and the tendency all the time was to bring about a condition in'.which every part of tho Empiro would bo joined to overy other part hv ties lialiter than silk but stronger tlmn steel. (Hear, hear.) Tlio people of New Zealand had been endeavouring to do their part as citizens of the 'Empire. They had been endeavouring to got into a position, from tho point of view of land defence, to tako caro or themselves. British Interests. "Speaking as a citizen of New Zealand," continued Mr. Masscy, "wo realiso that our interests aie British interests, and that British interests aro our interests. Tho great majorit- of tho pcoplo of New Zealand aro quite prepared to do their duty and their share of maintaining tho naval supremacy of tho Empire. Now, speaking to my fellow members of Parliament, this is the first occasion on which tho citizens of No.v Zealand havo had an opportunity of welcoming to this country a member of tho Imperial Government. I need hardly, toll you that I am now . speaking of Lord Emmott, the UnderSecretary of State for tlio Colonies, and I liopo and believe that his visit to New Zealand and to tho other dominions of tho Empiro will be useful to him in connection with the high office idifcli he holds. I may say that since the arrival of Lord Emmott in New Zealand I have had an opportunity of conferring with him on matters of very great importance to New Zealand, and I am satisfied that good will result therefrom and that the conferences wo have hnd will lead to closer and more friendlv relations between the Imperial Government and the Government of New Zealand. (Hear, hear, and applause.) I sincerely liopo that our visitors will come again, and that when thev come again they will be able, to flop for a very much longer time with us. When they go back to that, nart of tho Empire to which they belong, I believe they will be able to toll our fellow citizens there that if New Zealand is a small country compared with other countries of tho Empire, still tho people .of New Zealand are energetic and enterprising and progressive. Wo are endeavouring to do our sharo not only from tho Empiro point of view,' but endeavouring to do all we can to mako New Zealand as great a country as wo can make it. Our Own Prosperity. "I want tho visitors to understand that the country is at present particularly prosperous. Last year wo increased the exports from this country by over three million pounds' worth, and I am going to mako a prediction that during the present, year we shall increase the exports by three millions over the amount we sent away last year." (Hear, hear, and applause.) Finally, the Prime Minister assured tho visitors that tho ucoplo of New Zealand

wero British by instinct and in their interests, and m sympathies, and not unworthy members of tho great raco to which tliey belonged. Tho toast of "Tho Visitors'' was drunk with enthusiasm. | LORD EMMOTT. THE PROGRESS OF THE EMPIRE. Lord Emmott returned hearty thanks for tho honour dono to tho members of tho visiting party. Oil arriving ho had received a most cordial and appreciative loiter from his Excellency the Governor. They were delighted to learn how much tho Governor's ability and tact wero appreciated in Now Zealand —(Hear, hear)—and how well lie was fulfilling the duties of his high office. After mentioning the Governor, ho asked leave to mention her Excollency. Ho was also delighted to find how greatly her gracious and sympathetic discharge of her duties was being appreciated by tho people of New Zealand. (Hear, hear.) New Zealand Ministers had been most kind during this brief visit, and had done all that thoy could and more than they wero obliged to do. It was that little bit moro than the requirements of an official recognition that would mako the recollections thoy would take away from New Zealand. (Hear, hear.) He recognised that this was not only a reception by the Government; but by the people of New Zealand. ")Ho would like to say how glad ho> was to meet his friend Sir Joseph • Ward, who was ono of tho best-known New Zealand statesmen in tho Old Country. (Hear, hear.) Ho desired on behalf of tho visiting deputation to thank the Empiro Parliamentary Association of New Zealand for the excellent' arrangements they had made, and the citizens who had accorded civic reocptions to tho party in Auckland and Wellington. It was a great satisfaction to him also to meet representatives of tho interesting Native race. Ho regretted that their stay in Now Zealand must be short, aud while ho mado no promise, ho would look'forward to coming again to this country. (Hear, hear.) The people at Homo recognised that New Zealand was essentially a British community. That fact alono made them feel at home, and in tlio second placo - tho pooplo showed such a real affection for the Mother Country that they could not help feeling at homo. , Royal Interest. _ This was tho first time that a. Parliamentary delegation from tlio Imperial Parliament had made a .visit to tho Parliament of this Dominion. . A great deal of interest had been taken in it by his Majesty tho King. (Applause.) How great that interest was would bo shown by tho fact that his Majesty was graciously pleased, when the party was in mid-Atlantic, to Bend him (Lord Emmott) a cablegram wishing bon voyage to the Parliamentary deputation, and stating that ho would follow closely tho events of what must bo a. very interesting aud notable tour. (Applause.) Although he did not como in any official capacity, 'ho came ou a democratic basis with a democratio deputation. (Hear, hear.) Ho should never have ventured to ask to bo allowed to come? of his own motion, but ho thought ho ought to tell that tho Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith) and his immediate official chief,; tho Secretary of State for tho Colonies (Mr. Harcourfc) had both asked him if ho could possibly do so to accompany tho deputation. (Hoar, hear.) He thanked his hearers with great cordiality for what they had dono, and were doing, for tho visitors. . Proven - Loyalty. New Zealand had proved its loyalty in a hundred ways. It was the.first of the great Dominions that niado a present of a first-irate battle-cruiser to aid the naval preparation of the Empiro. (Applaiuso.) He was glad to visit Now Zealand immediately riter the battlocruiscr New Zealand had visited theso shores. He was glad to hear that tho visit had) excited groat interest and given great pleasure to the people of tho Dominion. Imporlal Unity. It might bo that some Now Zealajidexs underrated tho difficulties of closer organic unity within the Empire. Ho was an advocate of closer organic unity, and ho hopocl it would bo kept always to tho fore.- (Hear, hear.) Ho did not intend' to deal with tho difficulties to which ho had alluded, but ho wanted to point out that real progress towards unity hod been made ui a very marked way during tlio last few years. The Imperial Conferences, which wero held every four years, had come to stay. (Heir, hear.) And tlio satisfactory feature about it was -that they wero becoming increasingly useful as conference followed conference. Apart from tho question of defence, ho, wantea to deal briefly with some of the questions doalt with at the last coiiferenco. Imperial Naturalisation. In tho matter of naturalisation, tlio Home Country and tho Dominions had their own lawß, but there was no hxed 6Vstem <rf Imperial naturalisation. Ibis was one of tho questions dealt with at the conference of 1911. An agreement as to tlio genoral lines of the legislation which was necessary to bring a-bout this system of Imperial naturalisation was. then made. Smco that time a Bill had beeji drafted, and had formed tho subject of corrcspondcnco between his Majesty's Government and tho Go'vciTiiments'of tho Dominions, ana although ho did not know what had been done since he left Homo, ho 'thought ho might say with confidence that before tho next conference came tho matter would be settled to the satisfaction of tho Homo Government and of all tho Dominions. (Hear, hear.) Tho Privy Council. In tho matter of appellate jurisdiction, since they loft Homo, a Bill had been passed increasing tho number or Dominion representatives on tlio i.rivy Council Judicature Committee lrom a maximum of five to a maximum or sevon. Ho was not without hope that New Zealand might bo able'to secure representation on that Judicial Committee. (Loud applause.) Up to the present time sho had not. He ventured to sav tliafc the decisions of tlio- Juaieial Committee of tho Privy Council wero accepted everywhere throughout his Majesty's Dominions and lie did not think it was going too far to say that tho groat Judicial Committee was cxcrcisinp a I'onl infltioiico in tlio clitcctioii of unity within tho Empiro. Smco tlio last Imperial Coiiferenco tho question of copyright had received similarity of treatment, both in the-Homo Country and in several of tho Dominions. Company law had also received similar treatment in many, of the Dominions. Considerable progress had been mado in tho direction of cheapening cable communication. It represented an mormons advance in tho matter of Imperial defence that colonial statesmen had been called upon to tako part ill tho deliberations of the Committee of imperial Defence. By this means both Homo and colonial statesmen were enabled to tako a broader view of tho problems with which they had to deal and it must help towards reasonable preparation in timo of poaco' and torwards centralisation and co-operation if ever tho time of war —which God forbid—should come. (Hear, hoar.) Many of theso matters wero of great, importance in themselves and taken cumulatively thoy marked real steps in tho direction in which they all desired to co. If they built slowly they should at ■'•all events build surely and upon solid foundations. Throughout tho whole of his political life lie had dono what lie could to promote tho unity of the British Em-, piro. He gUvo it as his sincere oninion that, having regard to tlio complex and difficult problems of their worldwido Empiro, real progress was being

made towards unity. This question far transcended their ovanescent party differences. (Hear, hear, and applause.) MR. D. M'MASTER. • Usf QUEST OF KNOWLEDGE. Mr. D. M'Master, M.P., also responded to the toast. Ho associated himsolf with tho expressions' of gratitude by Lord Emmott for all -the kindnesses shown tho party. One of tho objccts of their visit, he said, was to enlarge their own information with regard to tho affairs of tho Dominion. Ho had a very profound conviction that in tho discharge of thoir duties at Westminster the experience gained on their tour would be of great service to them. They Lad found out in the courso of a couple of days that tho people of New Zealand had got hold of one of tho choice sections of the earth. It would easily carry a population of five or ten millions instead of ono. If tho Unitod I Kingdom could accommodate 45 millions of people, why could not Now Zealand do it?" They woro intent on gaining information regarding the problems _of tho Dominions and their point of viow with regard to t.ho great Empire to which tliey all belonged. (Applause.) Speaking of communication, Mr M'Master said that it was a misfortune that a rate of 3s. a word should bo charged. What was wanted was not information about the doings of Mrs. Pankhurst or of that eminent criminal Mr. Thaw, but better and closer communications on matters of real importance over tho water, under the wator, and, if possible, through tho air. (Hear, hear.) They wanted to be brought together in oloser communication aboiit tho things that really mattered. Of all things that they !had seen, nothing had pleased them more than tho sight of the magnificent gift of Now Zealand, tho great battleship New Zealand, which they saw in a British Columbian harbour. He doubted whether t'lie battleship had evor received such a welcome hore as she had been given in Canada. (Hear, hear.) Thoy had to Tcmember that peace was not of their making alone, and that the best guaranteo of peace was to f be propared for war.

SIR JOSEPH WARD. \ . A RED-LETTER DAY. t Sir . Joseph Ward was loudly applauded t' and cheered ns lie roso to propose the v toast of the United Kingdom Branch, of g the Empire Parliamentary Association, n He said that the day was a red-lottery day in tho history of the British Empire. Tho speech they had heard from 11 Lord Emmott waa an education. It Was an especial pleasure to Mm to know F that two of tho visitors were Canadian F horn, and they camo from a Parliament that included threo New Zealand-born P members. Tho peoplo of New Zealand were one with the people of Great Britain in a desire to mako tho Old Land stronger ar.d stronger in every way. Ha urge 4 that tliu Mother Country j should agree to tho laying of a State- s owned cable across tho Atlantic, and so i consummate a great Imperial .work, j which would be of lasting valuo. Tho r ideal of a Little Englander had passed, , and gone for ever. There was a gene- \ ral desire throughout the Empire that j its people should bo one, not only in e kith and kin, but in practical applica- e tion. iThe present visit was an epoch- 1 making one, which would set its mark i upon the history of tho Empire. He believed that it would" lead to visits < by other British statesmen. Personally ' ne would dearly like to see Mr. Har- } court come out to these countries for a ! few months. (Applauso.) And ho ! would go back an ovo6 more valuablo man than he 'was at present. (Ap- J plause.) Ho paid n tribute to the secretary of the Empiro Parliamentary Association, Mr. d'Egville. • Finally, ho expressod'a hope that tho people'of the \ different parts of the. Empire would { unite to preserve peaco, or if tho need c arose, to wipe those who: olected to try conclusions with them off the face of the ( earth. (Loud applauso.) ' . 1 ■— - . < RIGHT HON. T. LOUCH, ] BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS. ' The Right Hon. T. Lough, in responding, said that the members of the .party : had been received with an extraordin- , ary welcome in New Zealand. They 'be- ' lieved that -Uie island's which formed Great Britain wero the most beaiutiful ( in the Northern Hemisphere, and it seemed tlhat the islands of New Zealand . woro tlho most beautiful in' the Southern I Hemisphere. He provoked: Ms. hearers to roars of laughter as he gave an unauthorised account of tho Empire Par- , Kamentary! Association.. Claiming that no man wa.s bettor entitled to speak for both political parties in the Imperial Parliament, he declared that the Mother Country had never wtllingly neglected tho Overseas Dominions. Oil tho contrary, she was willing to shed the last drop of to blood on behalf of these great Dominions whicQi were the ornament of tho British Crown. . "Little - England" had never failed in her duty to her ooloriies. It was in the days of tho Little Englandcrs that tho colontes had grown great, and if amy neglect had been it was in tho way of alltowing the coloniios to seek happiness in the way they thought best. England! hnxl more to learn from tho colonies tihan they had to learn from her. England was Btill saturated with tho mistakes of the Middle Ages, but New' Zealand had started afredi with a clean slate end on a scientific basis. That was why the colonies were so rioh and prosperous. Illustrating'his point, Mr. Lougih said that if lie went Home and proposed' that a Tourist Department should be established, ho would be looked upon as a lunatic. It .was one recommendation of the Empiro Parliamentary Association that it was a sort of Tourist Department. He was loudly applauded as no said 'tlhat, to him, it seemed that development was nearer tho heart of the people of tho Dominions than defence. The greatest recommendation of any Empire was a broad, humane, a.nd peaceful policy. While tho Dominions •pursued tlheso ideals they would not go far wrong, and if oyer anybody interfered they could rely on the Mother 'Country. (Loud applause.) SIR STEPHEN COLLINS. A PRIVILEGED PEOPLE. Sir Stephen Collins proposed tho (toast of "Tho Primo Minister." Ho eulogised tho beauty of New Zealand, and declared that its people wero privileged. ' If they were not a wealthy people they were rich in health and happiness. The visitors had been roceived by the Primo Minister and. tho people of New Zealand in right royal fashion, and would .go away feeling moro than ever that they were ono people with ono grand object in view. MR. MASSSEY RESPONDS. A PLEASANT TASK. Tha Primo Minister was received ♦with cheers when ho rose to speak. Ho assursd his auditors that nothing in his official experience had given him mors pleasure than presiding over 'the Blithering that day, and observing tho ' spirit in which the people of New Zealand had recoived the visitors from tho Imperial Parliament. Quoting the passaga from Kipling: "'What know they of England who only England know?" hs said that their guests would know mere t f Britain after this tour than they had ov»r known before. Ho hoped that tk» experience they gained would be of benefit to them and also to the citizens of the younger countries of tho Empire, (Applause.)

MR. WILL CROOKS.

THE FUTURE GENERATIONS. In response to loud calls, Mr. Crooks "Jelivored a characteristic after-dinner

speech. It began with some humorous stories effectively told, and ended with a serious injunction to his local hearors to romember their responsibilities. The Dominion might not bo much in acres, ho said, but it was tremendously rich in possibilities. 'The present population held it for posterity, and gatherings of that kind should remind them of their responsibilities to mankind. "If you run it always with tho sole object of pounds, shillings, and pence," said Mr. Crooks, "then not only the generations of to-day, but tho generations unborn, will curse you; but if you run it with a single viow to elevating humanity and leaving tho world a little bettor than you found it, then tho generations unborn will bless you." (Loud applauso.) Boforo dispersing, the company, at the call of the Prime Minister, sang "God Save the King."