THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2112, 21 June 1907, Page 2

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

AUSTRALIAN DELEGATES’ VIEWS. United Press Association—Copyright PERTH, June 20. Mr. Deakin, interviewed with reference to his speech at DeKeyser’s Hotel, London, on May 12, which gave rise to much condemnation in Labor circles in Australia, said lie was. asked and said nothing about the Federal Labor party. His remarks about the Labor party being in deep water referred to Queensland alone, and were founded on the latest cable • nformation from Australia. The reporters were evidently unfamiliar either with the disturbance between the several States or between the States and the Commonwealth, consequently they made confusion of his remarks, it- was rather amusing to find himself jliallenged for repeating a statement with reference to the State Labor party which was made on the faith ol correspondents in Australia. Sir \V. Lyne, interviewed regarding the mail contract, said when Mr. Bent’s offer was made in London he told a member of tbe syndicate it' was •simply impossible to admit the right of ono State to receive preference over another. That position he still adhered to. As to Victoria’s latest offer, Sir W. Lyne declared the contract was a Federal matter, and ■vliat- a State says it is willing to do may be a different tiling. Mr. Deakin, at the reception, refer--' red to the torrent of hospitality wherewith the delegates had been inundated in England. There was too much hospitality. He outlined tbe strenuous fight- made to have the Imperial Conference opened to the jn-ess. People had been obliged to speak from nformation obtained in the cables. This bad been obtained from A-ery uncertain information supplied in ’London. He expected a full report ivould reach Australia, about July o. A good many tilings bad not A-et- been communicated to the people* They would find some surprises in the report. Tile congress had been a triple success; firstly because of the extruird in ary interest and expectation it was awaited Avitli ; secondly, because of tlie actual results embodied in tjje resolutions. Of course, they AA-ere not for which they ivould have hoped, but those Avhicli for tlie most part they had expected. Perhaps the greatest success of all A\*as one from tbe Conference find yet outside the Conference, that every Australian in London rallied to support them in "hat they AA-ere doing, that tlie represent ait lA'es of other Dominions applauded them and encouraged them to go on, and that tho British people by resolutions and other indications AA-ere in sympathy and congratulated and urged them to go forAvard. When the members of the Conference spoke straight tbe people of tbe Mother A.ountry, apart from and aboA-e local politics, supported them as citizens of the Empire, united by many mutual y es \ aIK I looking forward to one high destiny. ‘

a '■ Lyne outlined tho doings of tlie Navigation Conference. He had been struck by the fact of lioav little the people of England knew about Australia. He urged the necessity of better adAertismg.

Receh-ed June 20, 11.12 p.m, ti o* i LONDON, June 20. Ihe (standard praises Mr. Dcakin’s temperate and discriminating survev of the Imperial the Perth reception.