NEW EMPIRE SENSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10320, 1 February 1927, Page 5

NEW EMPIRE SENSE.

FEDERAL PREMIER IN AUCKLAND

LESSONS OF IMPERIAL CONFERENCE \

DEFENCE AND TRADE PROBLEMS 3

AUCKLAND, Jan. 31. The Australian Prime Minister, Mr S. M. Bruce, now on his way home after the Imperial Conference, arrived in Auckland to-day by the Niagara. In an interview Mr Bruce said his main impression of the conference was that real and lasting progress has been made towards an understanding of Dominion needs at Home and a realisation in the, Dominions of what is due to the Mother Country. “A new Empire sense has come into being” declared Mr Bruce. “J. was amazed by the difference which three years have made. The*last Imperial Conference was in 1923, and to one who has been privileged to be at both assemblies the growth in mutual understanding and the broadening of outlook is astounding. “Imperial defence was the first subject on which Mr Bruce touched. “At last”, he said, “we had had an authoritative statement from the Dominions that they are prepared to face their obligations in the matter of naval and aerial provision.” He did not think it was overstating the case to assert that for many years Australia and New Zealand were alone among the Dominions in their realisation of defence duty, but now he was glad to know that other parts of the Empire wtre prepared to take their share. The whole Empire showed a better atmosphere to-day than it did three years ago. Prejudices had vanished, misunderstanding had been cleared up, and with the spirit which was so strikingly revealed by the Conference the Empire had reason to look to the future with the consciousness of strength and unity.” Mr Bruce had some interesting information to give with regard to aerial communication between Great Britain, the East, and the outlying Dominions. He said lie preferred not to commit himself to an opinion whether the eventual links would be lighter-than-air or heavier-than-air conveyances, but lie was convinced that the next ten years would see tremendous development in the lighter-tlian-air transport, and that its eventual success was assured. Australia was not yet prepared to undertake the erection of permanent mooring masts, preferring to await the re-' suit of the experimental work which was now being undertaken. When success was achieved, however, the authorities would find Australia ready to do all she possibly could in linking up the service. Great progress had also been made in heavier-than-air commercial development. Already there was a regular service of planes to and from Egypt and also a regular service from Cairo to Iraq and back Experimental flights were to be made from Karachi to Singapore, where, if all went well, aeroplane bases would be established. It required no great effort of imagination, said Mr Bruce, to visualise the time when Australia and New Zealand would be linked up with Singapore, thus cdmpleting the chain of Empire. Mr Bruce was also optimistic about the trade prospects of Great Britain and Greater Britain. Asked how trade was at Home he replied:' “Much better than 1 expected to find it. The coal strike was a big handicap, but now that it is over the, prospects are good. There was, too’, a better understanding of Australian and New Zealand needs, and a more progressive attitude in fighting American competition. Only too long bad British manufacturers neglected the trade fields of the Dominion, and American manufacturers had not been slow to take advantage of their opportunities. At present American motor car firms actually exported 40,000 more cars than the whole of the British-made machines. It was not that British traders turned out unsuitable cars : it was a matter of exporting enterprise and go ahead methods of distribution. The principal firms at Home were now alive to the Dominions’ needs, and several of the leading motor representatives would be visiting Australia and possibly New Zealand this year. Referring again to the question ol Imperial defence, Mr Bruce said the share of tlie financial burden must depend on population, and therefoie it was not reasonable to expect Australia with 6060,000 people, or New Zealand with less than 1,500,000, to contribute anything like the sh a . re of the Mother Country but official figures showed that their shares were much larger in proportion than either Canada or South Africa. The payment per head for .Imperial defence was: Great Britain 51s Id-; Australia 27s 2d; New Zealand 12s. lid; Canada 5s lOd; and South Africa 2s 6d . Mr Bruce was met on board the Niagara by the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, who introduced the Mayor of Auckland, Mr G. Baildon. After a motor drive round the city Mr Bruce attended the Ro'tary Club’s luncheon, where he gave an ’interesting address. In the afternoon he enjoyed a game of golf on the Middlemore links. He will leave for Sydney in the Niagara this evening.—P.A. .