MR. HUGHES AT BRISTOL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2777, 22 May 1916, Page 5

MR. HUGHES AT BRISTOL

A HEAL IMPERIAL ASSET Br TeleEraDli—Press Assooiation-CoDrriEh! : : (Rec. May 21, 5.5 p.mi) . . London, May 20. \— Mr. and Mrs. Hughes and Sir Thomas Mackenzie (Now Zealand High Commissioner) and his daughter- had a warni 1 reception at Bristol. - There w.as a guard V of honour at tho station, and the guests . were driven to the Council Chamber in. the Lord Mayor's coach. There was a did- .< tinguished gathering present. The ber. was decorated with wattle and ferns. The Mayor, in presenting the freedom of tlie city of Bristol, said Mr. Hughes was a clear-sighted .prophet, and a real Imperial asset. Sir Thomas Mackenzio was equally alive to tho Gorman menace, and was a vigorous democratic politician.'. Sir Thomas Mackenzio said, in replying,i that the day had passed when tho colo- ! nies could be regarded as undesirable in- ; cumbraiiQes. Ho could not understand l ! tho degenerate spirit of those suggesting the renewal of old relations with Gcr- ; many. Tho old muddle-through methods .; were no longer possible in Imperial qucs- ■ ■ tions. The party visited tho docks and saw tho Essex discharging New Zealand frozen meat, and inspected tho. proposed docks; . extension. ■ ■ ' ■ i Sir Thomas. Mackenzie was banqueted, nnd in his speech advocated improving . tho Board of Trade's oommercinl intelligence department, adding that the com- : mercial men and manufacturers of : tho i Empire should organise a great exhibition in Endiind in their interests after the war. Though each part of 'the T-jm-piro must control its own administration nnd tariffs, there wore larger interests requiring Imperial control. The oversea ; people.? believe that tho time has arrived ' for a cliango in tlie present methods, anft the British authorities should give mora . heed to the subject.