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Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1920, Page 3

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PRESS DELEGATES RETURN. WELLINGTON, Oct. 11 “It has been a great experience,” said Mr J. Parker, of the Wellington “Post,” who has just returned from the Imperial Press Conference at Ottawa. “Not only have the delegates been profoundly impressed with the i success which attended the conference [ —the first representative Imperial Congress held outside of England—but the journey across the Dominion, while revealing the vastness of area and richness of resource of Canada, was marked by many happy incidents and striking proofs of the great accord existing between Canada and other parts of the British Empire. At the conference there were present representatives from all parts of the Empire, and the beneficial results obtained from a frank and full interchange of opinions should be far-reaching. We had the privilege of listening to illuminating addresses from the political leaders and other public men ; many subjects of immediate concern to the newspaper world were debated; and the development of interimperial relationship was reviewed from all standpoints. In this connection it is interesting to mention that the conference was practically unanimous in its opinion that a vital factor in developing Empire consciousness centres in the provision ot cables, quicker and cheaper facilities for the exchange of news and opinions within the Empire. Recognising that the distribution of news is one of the greatest of public trusts, the Australian and New Zealand representatives were very insistent 'on the impartiality and independence of such services, which, it was urged, should remain independent of Government control and free fr> m propagandist influences. A resoluti »n to this effect was adoj/ted by the conference.” - y s Mr Parker was greatly struck with the rapid development of Canada, the advantageous utilisation of the country’s natural resources, and the magnificent system of railways, of which be spanks in terms of t|ie highest praise. “The operations of the Canadian Pacific Railway are most extensive,” said Mr Parker. “This may be judged by the fact that it owns and controls 18,000 miles of track; operates over 100,000 miles of telegraph system; runs lines of steamships across the Atlantic to Europe, and across the Pacific to various parts of the Far East; owns a large number of palatial hotels, and has a department for providing farm lands for intending settlers. Enterprise has also found full scope in the promotion of commercial transport on the lakes and rivers,,and the construction of canals. Hundreds of miles of canals, with their numerous locks, provide highways for vessels of all sizes, and the day is not far distant when the Canadians, with their intense and considerable belief in the future of their country and their healthy capacity for achieving things, expect to see the Great Lakes connected with the Atlantic. Certainlf the list of ‘big 1 things accomplished was an impressive object-lesson to visitors from overseas.”