The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” THURSDAY, AUGUST 4th, 1921. THE BIG CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” THURSDAY, AUGUST 4th, 1921. THE BIG CONFERENCE.

The Imperial Conference is drawing to a close. Indeed its effective work has Veased practically now, for .some of the visiting Premiers are homeward bound already. It is not possible to guage tin* value or the work of the Conference by its length or breadth. No doubt piany of its conclusions, if not resolutions, have not been made public. Its value lies in the expression of the Empire views of the various vexed questions from the different stand points of the Dominions, These the Home Government has to assimilate ns best it nan, and apt with si fuller knowledge of Jmw Empire Interests

abroad are being effected. The present ((.inference was more informative, wo are persuaded to think in the direction indicated, than any previous assemblage. The w;\r period qnd was servile brought all parts of th» Elmpi re .much closer together, and showed the Imperial inter•-dependence. Having leaned so much upon each other in the time of crisis, and a closer brotherhood li#ing created, ,in Live days of opulence and development to come, it was but right that the views of each and all should he clearly stated and understood. King George in one of his notable .speeches once invited the people ‘‘to think Imperially,” but it required the rigors of a tremendous war to drive home the suggestion. In the present, conclave there is no

doubt the opinions of. the visiting Premiers have had careful consideration. Certainly much greater publicity has been given to the views of the Dominion representations. The loquacious Mr Hughes has been well “pressed” throughout the Empire. Our own Premier (Air Massey) did not hide his light under a bushel. As a matter of fact, Mr Massey has proved a vigorous

and rattier able reprPtwntaltjve. Tin* mistakes he made were more of the heart than the head anc} they were perhaps not serious malaprop. Certainly he hail a single desire to maintain the New Zealand view and on the whole he did that very thoroughly. The other .Premiers, including Air Smuts of South Africa, and the rather .singular Premier of Canada, were likewise plainspoken where their interests were affected so that the British Government should have a clear view of tin* Dominions outlook on large imperial questions. Mr Lloyd George was a fquent visitor to the Conference, where he listened more than he spoke, and that was an evidence of the attention given to the overseas viewpoint. The advantages to be derived from the Conference will not lie immediately selfevident. They will materialise by degrees. Above and about them hover the international issues yet to be settled by the conversations on Pacific questions and the discussions on the disarmament proposals. These inf* are possible of very far-reaching effect both within the Empire and i” ternationallv. The broad fact stands out that very useful seed lias been sown. The -Empire understands it-d

probably hotter now than over it did. and with this understanding then* should result si riper judgment not so much on principles (which are usually conceded) hut in the details affectum some which is the real test of effective administration. On the whole good re. suits may be anticipated from the Imperial Confluence of 1921.