The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MAY 21st 1925.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MAY 21st 1925.

EMPIRE TOURS. The Prime Minister of Great Britain announced lately at the annual meeting of the Empire Parliamentary Association in Westminster Hall that a parliamentary delegation will be sent next year to Australia and New Zealand. In future, he said, financial help for such delegations would have to be considered to permit of the inclusion of those who otherwise would he unable

to go. Mr Baldwin. aim mined the .adoption of the annual report, said he v. as a firm heliecer in the work ol tlm association, and he thought they wauted til go oil with these Parliamentary visits. They should be organised Irci[Uently and on a large scale. All units of the Empire must net to know more about the other units and the relations of those units to tho whole. Mo could not work lor prosperity unless we had In each unit siillieient knowledge to give driving lone to enable it tu accomplish uliat we wanted to do. Mr Haldwin continued: “It is ipiite possible that we shall have to give serious ooiisiderat ion to making appropriations lor ilologMions of this kind and that la' ill ties shall be given to those who might otherwise la* unable to take I art. That in future would enable the giing out to different [arts ol the Empire of delegations wlneli shall be thoroughly representative. We have talked about a delegate n going to Australia. It would bo Mi Mi ult lor it- to arrange sio h a delegation tins year, but 1 think it may be possible that we may got the best out of a delegation going cut to Australia neat year. I am very anxious to goo whether it may not be | i's- 1 1 1 10 to arrange the business id Parliament so that we may gel a silHieicnf vacation in the autumn In rmidcr these visits more possible. II it- were | Id have a long adjournment ami to taler* tie King's Speech at the end ol Xvvembi r. it seem' in me then that there would he no inherent ciillii idly in memb'ers of Parliament losing t licit short session and getting a long spoil from some time in August until Jantiarv, ami come back to the work ol Parliament in February. I licit would give them an opportunity ol exploring Australia ami New Zealand.” In the dis. ussinu which followed, Mr J • lb Clvnc;, M.l’., dwelt on the assist an; r which outlying parts of the Knipirc could give in regard to unemployment at home. Me believed that by the use of credit and a hotter employment of transport facilities much could he done for the lienefit of Britain as well as lor the benefit of oilier parts ol the Empire. Air.l. 11. Thomas. M.l’., who moved a resolution thanking South Africa for the reception of the delegation there, said that the Prime* ol Wales's tour promised to achieve great, results. The visit ol the Prince wets looked to nut only with pleasure, but also with absolute enthusiasm Icy all ranks of people in Smith Africa. Me was glad the idea was being developed that these visits to our Empire overseas must not lie confined to those only who could afford them. Poverty must not. he it barrier, and he was glad to hear of the appropriation for this purpose which hud been suggested by the Prime Minister. Replying at the close tn a vote of thanks, the Speaker said the Prime .Minister, had mentioned a possible visit to Australia which might lie coincident with the opening of tho new Parliament House of the Commonwealth. Me wondered whether it would he possible for the asso: iation to consider the presentation or offer of a Speaker’s Chair in the same way as was done a few years ago to the Canadian Mouse when the disastrous fire had burnt down the Canadian Parliament. No doubt Mr Speaker’s suggestion will find favor, and from tin* remarks c f the previous speakers it is clear that tile Empire tours will be a deiinitu scheme for the future. They should In. resfoudbk* for much good, anil he of particular assistance to the oversea dominions which will In* drawn together more and more as the years go by