IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1923, Page 2

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION QUESTION (>!■■ PUBLICITY. LONDON. October ,'L The Imperial Conference held a two hours’ sitting to-day, being chiefly occupied hy a statement by Lord Dovonshire. on the progress and developtueiit of the Crown Colonies and mandated territories and by sjieeehes of the Dominion delegates thereon. The Conference agreed upon the system of publicity hut it is understood that. Lord Curzon's statement on the foreign policy on Friday will not he published. Br .1. C. t . Davidson. Chancellor ot l]i,. jiuchv of Lancaster, has been jdac- J ~ I ~|,arge of ~iil,lif itv arrangements. . u i|| |,Hi,I conferences once or perhaps twice tlailv with the |>ress representatives. Ouestious on the loretgn policy will he'handled hv the lull conference. Other questions will he remitted hi y the tirst place to committees. The Conference 'ic-tdcd to establish a general Secretariat on which all dolegates will he represented. A GENERAL DISCUSSION. LONDON, Oct. 1. , All the Dominions’ and Indian representatives participated in the discussion following Lord Devonshire’s adThe Canadian Premier, Mr Mackenzie King, made reference to the West Indies. Mr .Massey spoke of Samoa and the Cook Islands. General Smuts alluded to the Atriterritories. Mr Warren dealt with Labrador. The Indian delegates’ speeches referred to the Kenya controversy over segrating Indian residents. The conference agreed to a speeial session to discuss the status of tho Indians throughout the British Em-

piro. Mr Massey aroused'the enthusiasrg of the conference by his exposition of New Zealand’s stieeessful adtninislratiou of Samoa and the Cook Islands He said that those eountries had made the greatest progress in their history under New Zealand protection and e0n,,.,,1. Their production increased, and their governmental administration had stabilised. The natives, he said, were jirospcrims and continued. Their grievances were prompt Iv redressed. He was glad to assure the conference that Samoa was developing satisfactorily in every way under New Zealand’s guidance. COLONIAL SECRETARY'S SPEECH. LONDON. Oet. 3. Lord Devonshire, in his address, emphasised that the moral aud_.jm,Tterial progress and ih'i'elojunetil of t.f:i coloitii's, protectorates, and mandated territories was inereasiugly iniportanE to all the partners in the British Empire. The Colonial Olliec. he said, had constantly, endeavoured to luster tho interest ot the Donttnions therein, ami so to stimulate inter-imperial trade. The colonies and protectorates were still suffering from trade depression, lint they generally were pulling through. The tinaneial position of some smaller colonies was a e,instant soureo of anxiety, hut the indications wore that the huger trojiical areas for which Hie Colonial Olliec i' resjionsihle were recovering. Ict much remained to be done lielore the trade of the colonies was sai isfaetot v, and they must look to inter-Imjit'fial trade to regain at least a part of the ground lost, in recent years. * ‘ Propose Is. lie said, “will he submitted to the Eionomie Coitferen'co with the object of increasing interimperial trade with the tropical possessions, and of fostering their development. i ut the action ol the Governments must he reinforced hy private capital and enterprise. The Ronaldshav Committee arc exjiloring this all- y important aspect i>B the question.” R. was anticipated tout the British l’.t’tpiiv Exhibition would open the eyes of the world to the tremendous material resources of the British Empire Alter reviewing the progress of the colonies, protectorates and mandated territories since the last linj'crial Conference, Lord Devonshire concluded by welcoming any advice and counsel from any delegate in handling the larger eoiiijilcx resjtansihilitties of the Colonial Oitiee.

He added that Fiji had suffered from the loss of its Australian market for sugar and fruit, hut thanks to New Zealand, which now took the hulk cf the sugar crop of these islands, which was grcatlv important to the British •* Imperial position in the Pacific, Fiji had passed the worst. He had recently learned with interest that there was the expectation of important new developments in trade y and shipping communications between Canada and Fiji, which could not but lie of mutual benefit to both. The demand there might attract both capital and labour to the Smith l’ai -Pin group. ANOTHER DINNER. LONDON, Oct. I. The member- ol the Conference were entertained at the Mansion House hy the London ( luimher of Commerce, Mr Barclay ''Chairman of the Council of the Chamber) presiding over a representative company, including 33 businessmen. The members from the Dominions replied to the toast of tho Economic Conference.

Lord Devonshire said lie realised that differences of opinion at the Conference would he almost certain. If. would lie uncanny if it were otherwise; but while appreciating these difficulties, the Conference was determined to find a solution. The Conference wished to obtain a sense of security and confidence for the trading and industrial classes. The Empire had proved the greatest war organisation ill history, but to-day it was the greatest organisation known in hi-tory for the. pre-ervatioil of the peace of the world.

Mr Burton (South Africa) urged that the question of free trade and protection was no longer a foti-li, but should he decided on it- merits. He emphasised lli.il ii was. essential for the conference to observe the principle that each part of the Empire should retain the right to frame it- own fiscal policy. A departure therefrom, he said, would strike a severe 1 low to the unity of the Empire. In proposing the toast of "The F.mj,ir ■ Overseas, ’’ Lord Reel said he win of opinion that there was "no need for anxietv as to the trade between Britain and India being diminished. Mr Mas-ev. in responding, said ho_ questioned whether the present of developing the newer countries oV the Empire was satisfactory. He was of opinion that the scheme should be materially improved. The Empire contained countries largely undeveloped, which with the smallest encouragement, would produce practically all tho foodstuffs roouiretl. Britain and the Empire -hould he made self-support-ing. Mr Mns-o v declared himself a believer in preference, although he admitted that there were other ways than customs tariffs, wherein preference could he given.