IMPERIAL UNITY.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1920, Page 2

IMPERIAL UNITY.

HON H. ASQUITH’S VIEWS, illy Electric Telegraph— Copyright.; LONDON, Jan. 29. Hon H. Asquith at Paisley, discussing constitutional and electoral reform, advocated a second Chamber, which to the extent of one-third should consist of nominated distinguished public servants in a non-political sphere such as the Bench or public service, or Dominions. He went on,, to say there must be a change in our Imperial system. Prior to the war si feature was tlie growing disposition to take into confidence the representatives of the great self governing Dominions. That procedure had been developed and we ' must have a verj§. loose elastic system, ( not bound with red tape or any permanent convention, the sender of which in all vital questions of special policy affecting the Empire as a whole, you would be able to bring into consultation with the Imperial Cabinet in Londoq. The Dominions were free parties with us in that gigantic institution which had grown up almost by a series of miracles, viz., the British Empire. He did not favour a scheme of an Imperial Parliament in which the Dominions would be directly represented, but would promote the increase of inter-communi-cation between ourselves at Home and the Colonies. The only way to keep the Empire intact was to combine Imperial unity with complete local autonomy.