MR. AMERY’S TOUR

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 117, 15 February 1928, Page 11

MR. AMERY’S TOUR

DEEP IMPRESSION MADE DEVELOPMENT OF VIGOROUS NATIONAL SPIRIT DESIRE FOR EXPANSION WITHIN EMPIRE Mr. Amery, in relating his experiences during his Empire tour, expressed a sense of the deep impression made upon him by the notable manifestations of the development of a more vigorous national spirit, and a desire for expansion w-ithin the Empire. By Telegraph.— pfifiss Association. Copyright. (Rec. February 14, 7.30 p.m.) London, February 13. Three-quarters of an hour of happy phrase-making at a crowded Press

— Conference enabled H Mr. Amery, Seeress tary of State for H the Dominions, to ® express a sense of g the deep impres|l sion the Empire 8 tour had made 8 upon him by the S notable manifesta--8 tions of developI ment of a more I vigorous national I spirit, and a desire I for expansion with- " in the Empire. He related in humormiQ vpin flip

ous vein the dodge of stuffing a Rotorua geyser with a sack to make it perform better. He wondered whether the lavish hospitality of Australia and New Zealand should have had the same effect upon him. He said the discussions in Australia had led to a better understanding, implementing a big migration scheme. A variety of State viewpoints was inevitable, but he was sanguine they would soon develop a satisfactory policy. They must devise precautions to prevent newcomers drifting into the cities, aggravating unemployment, and creating an anti-migration feeling. Personally Mr. Amery said he felt that British manufacturers had a good opportunity to establish branches in Australia, and thereby directly assist migration. Experience and conviction told him the most valuable training for settlers was that given in Australia, though it would be useful to give some preliminary training here in order that a newcomer should not face the farmer as a fool. He had had discussions with all the Governments and British representatives in the Dominions, but he could not comment on these till he had consulted the Cabinet. Commenting on the Canadian report, Mr. Amery said he expected a big expansion of preference. He said that what he had in mind was that as soon as Britishers were seized of the ideal of Imperial preference, it would be steadily strengthened and advanced.

OWN KNOWLEDGE INCREASED

BETTER UNDERSTANDING WITH DOMINIONS Rugby, February 13. Mr. Leopold Amery, Dominions Secretary, was back in the House of Commons to-day after his tour of the overseas Dominions. He was greeted with loud cheering. In an interview he declared that his tour had been exceedingly useful in increasing his own knowledge of the conditions and problems of the Dominions, and improving the understanding between the Dominions and the Home, Country. He thought that the precedent which he had set in making such a tour would be followed in the future, and that it would be regarded henceforth as the first duty of a Dominions Secretary to visit the overseas parts of the Empire. He said: “We cannot expect Dominion Ministers to do all the travelling. At the Imperial Conference one meets two or three Ministers, but going round I have been able to meet practically everv Minister, as well as Leaders of Opposition, and prominent men in everv walk of life who could bring me in touch with the life of . the community. In my speeches I sought everywhere to show that the- old era of Empire relationships had closed with the last

Imperial Conference, and that the equal freedom of the Dominions under the Crown was a freedom not of irresponsibility, but of responsibility.”— British Official Wireless. MARKETING BOARD’S EXPENDITURE London, February 11. In the House of Commons, Mr. Amery, in reply to a question, said that the expenditure of the Empire Marketing Board from May 26, 1927, to January 31, 1928, was £377,000, of which £2OOO was for publicity, and the remainder for economic investigations. The total since the inception was £822,000, mostly for scientific research.— A.P.A. and “Sun.”