EMPIRE POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1924, Page 2

EMPIRE POLITICS.

STATEMENT BY MR THOMAS. LCBTBALIAN AND tt.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION. LONDON, May 14. Mr J. 11. Thomas (Colonial Secretary) speaking at a dinner given to Mr Theodore (Queensland Premier) at the Hotel Cecil-, made an important statement in reference to tlie Imperial Conference, lie said: “X know that it is a delicate subject, but I believe it is better to speak of things that ought to bo discussed, than merely of pleasant tilings. I recognise that there are many pieopilc of Britain and the Do minions who are anxious, indeed apprehensive, about the outcome of tlic British Government turning down, even ruthlessly, tbe recommendations solcmly arrived at by the Imperial Conference, but it was only blind, party politics to assume that there is only one side to such questions. There are two, and I want to face them. I believe that it was a mistake to bring the Dominion Prime Ministers to de. liberate and reach conclusions with the Government here, when there was

the danger of those conclusions being

repudiated, either here or in their own Dominions. This liapipieiied in rctcrciice to the last Imperial Conference, through a change of Government here. Steps should be taken to prevent a recurrence of this in future. 1 have no watertight solution to offer, but I think that Party feeling could bo avoided, if, instead of only the Prime Ministers attending the Conference, the leaders of the recognised Official Opposition in Britain were also to attend, with the result that united, instead of party decisions could bo reached. Questions of Imperial concern and of Empire development should be lifted out of the realm of Party politics.

;Mr Thomas continued that that was the spirit wherein lie was seeking to administer the Colonial Office. Mr Thomas added that lie rejoiced at tbe settlement of the dispute be. tween Queensland and the London financial circles. Ho confessed that he was most apprehensive about it ttlicit Mr Theodore arrived, because lie believed that a failuro to reach a settlement would have driven many of the Dominions to seek outside the Ernpiro ibe financial assistance Hint was read, ily available witirii. It would have been a blow from which it would he difficult for Die Empire to recover.

Mr Theodore, in piropiosing the health of Mr Thomas, paid a tribute to bis conspicuous assistance towards the iccent* loan settlement. When he (the speaker) came to London, lie found the Queensland Government's anil the London money circle’s views were as far apiart as the pioles, but the exeicise of sound common sense on the part of all concerned, personal intercourse, and the frankest discussion of the issues involved, had led to entirely overcoming the differences which had ex'stoil for four years. Mr Theodore said that the people of Britaiu and the more distant Dominions who had lost much through their wide separation, must learn to make reasonable allowances for different viewpoints, and mutually give credit to the bona fhles thereof. Ho declared that Aus-

tralia’s population and trade are not increasing as fast as they ought. Consequently Australia was unable to play the part which she ought in tlic Commonwealth of nations. The chief reason was that Australian development hitherto had been confined to Southern Australia. Half of Austral.a he .-aid. lay north of the 2oth degree of latitude, yet it only contained lOn.flfiO whites. The White Australia poliey could not be justified unless use was made of this huge empty area.