IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1930, Page 6

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

.THE '* OUTSTANDING SPEECHES

BY SCULLIN AND HERTZOG

[United Press Association.—Jßy Electrio Telegraph|.—Copyright.]

LONDON, , October 2,

The discussion in Imperial Conference circles indicate that the outstanding speeches at the opening session, were those of Mr. Soullin (Australia), a.nd General Hertzog (South Africa). Mr Scullin’s speech created an impression for its strength, colour, and delivery, even though Mr Scullin was performing an unaccustomed task in reading from a manuscript. General Hertzog commanded attention largely on the score of surprise from the fact that he only lightly touched on the constitutional issue, which he had been.- expected to stress, but instead brought out economic factors in a telling speech.

_ __ SECOND ; 7 ECONOMIC COMMITTEE SET poiNo:

LONDON, October 2.

The Prime Minister of the Union of Sbuth ' Africa, 'General Hertzog," in.his speech, .sai^t: —“I can conceive nothing ffipfce of Commonwealth cooperation {.ban such a failure; : with its consequential loss of faith in the star bility of opr economic relations.” The Heads of the Delegations met again in Downing Street this afternoon. Mr Ramsay MacDonald presided. .He discussed the procedure. The meeting referred certain, times to the Conference Committees, on which the chairmen were appointed. Tlie heads , will meet again at 10 o’clock to-morrow.

The economic experts will meet the Board of Trade. Sir Sidney Chapman has been elected the chairman./ They in a preliminary way .discussed - procedoce. They meet againto-mprrow. Their report to' a plenary This committee haA the right to call iri any outside experts. ;; The. nature . of tomorrow's work for the- Conforeiice.. indicates that deference has been paid to the Canadian Prime Minister., Mr Bennet’s viewpoint. Both Mr Scullin and Mr Forbes were ready to begin discussion immeditaely that they were required to d,o so. It has been intended to delve tomorrow straight into the economic issue, hut Mr Bennett' the Canadian Pfemier, pointed out that he had only Arrived yesterday' sd he was not prepared to take up an Intimate discussion immediately.LACK OF PUBLICITY. . . , LONDON, October 2. There has been much discussion over :the /blunder in not having a- public. opening when at least two of the Dominions were agitating for such an opening.:. To .overcome this,- .a, suigges; tioh .xv'as -made’' for a Press Committee ;to keep the journalists -informed, but ail assurance was given that adequate. arrangements would : : be made, so the agitation has subsided. This much, however, has been made clear—that if the Australian delegation feel that their position needs elaborating publicity, it will he done through Australian channels, and not the regular press bureau. ;

BRILLIANT DINNER

CANADIAN PREMIER ON UNITY

LONDON, October 2. , .There was a brilliant gathering at a dinner given at the/Guildhall by the Rdyal Empire-Society; tlie British Empire/ JM gue?;the Overseas League, the British Empire;. Club and the Victoria •League,, to. the, Jnembers of the Imperial ■ Conference and their womenfolk. -Prince Arthur of Connaught presided., He, had Airs Scullin on his left and Ijliss Bennett on his right. Mr Fprbes,/Airs Forbes,"Hon. Sir Tlios. Sjdey (New {Zealand) and Hon. Mr .Parker Moloney (Australia), were all at the top. of, the table. There was a large number of Australians present. ,Late in the evening, an unusual scene was created by a pale youth walking up, and taking a place behind the Ht. Hon. J. fl. Thomas (Secretary of the Dominions), and shouting: “I’m twenty-one.. I have passed through the Charterhouse and Cambridge. Solomon prayed for wisdom. Ido the same. I am speaking on behalf of humanity, and I want your help!” •Af this there were cries of “Order! Sit down! ?? This resulted in attendants leading out the youth, who, as he left the building, stated that he did not represent any movement, and did not need any personal help, “I’m thinking of my country,” he said, “and I want the youth to have a chance.” Prince Arthur, of Connaught, in his speech, asked the Prime Ministers to carry home to their people of all parties, classes and creeds “an expression of our abiding and unalterable affection, goodwill and sympathy.”

Mr Bennett, Canadian Prime Minister, described the Guildhall as containing monuments and memorials of those who had made the Empire possible. In the diversity 'of its peoples, talents ..and resources lay the real strength of the Empire. “That diversity,” he said, “we are trying to use to create harmony. Before us lies the task of Empire consolidation. We must think of the Empire as an economic unit. If we but keep faith with

one another, we can achieve unity. The Empire is not‘bankrupt in statecraft. Our steadfast purpose is to do our part in maintaining the Empire in its great place among the people of the world.”

AIR SCULLIN’S SPEECH

LONDON, October 2,

On rising to give his speech at the Guildhall dinner, the Australian Premier, Mr J. H. Scullin, was received with prolonged applause. He said that the Imperial Conference was a family gathering and continued : “We are being entertained in London—too true! When we think of the dinners and lunches we have had, with more that are to follow, we think that Artemus Ward was right when he said he had drunk so many healths that lie was afraid of losing his own. We came here to work. Please let us work ? There are people who wonder how the nations of the British Commonwealth have kejit together. Onlookers might think that there was something dividing us when we are so busy defining our'status; but, the greater the freedom, the greater the unity! The silken bonds of kinship are stronger than iron bands! I believe that any attempt to replace those silken threads by iron bands will not help unity.”

Mr Scullin continued that he brought a message from those children to t]ie pioneers who were building up a nation, but who loved the home of their fathers which they themselves had never seen. It was many years since the hearts of the people of the British Commonwealth' had beat so closely together as to-day. “Let us,” he said, “resolve to build up a. greater and a more lasting prosperity for our people. If -we cannot find work and organise security for our workers, than we have failed to represent the people!”

THE PREMIER’S WIVES

LONDON, Oct. 2

The women folk of the members of the Imperial Conference, like the delegates themselves, are almost overburdened with /social engagements. Mrs Scullin has had to refuse all invitations for more than a week ahead.

Lady Squares, the wife of the only member of Parliament from Newfoundland, is of the opinion that the delegates’ wives slioull do more than entertain and be entertained. They might, she says, helpfully meet and compare notes or the conditions in other Dominions. !she says: “A woman must take an important part in governing.” Airs Forbes, on the other hand, thinks that a woman’s proper place is' the home, and looking after her family.

IN POPULAR DEMAND.

LONDON, Oct. 2

Air J. H. Scullin, .the Australian Prime Minister, has been . overwhelmed with invitations including those lor his acceptance of the freedom of several of the cities, and notably that of Glasgow. A week-end visit to Chequers Court is also being arranged for the Australian Prime Alinister, but probably his first country experience will lie Ms ..coming week-end visit to Liphook, in Hampshire, the delightful home of Lord Papsfield, who. when he was Mr Sidney Webb, laboured long in social ideals that are dear to Air •Scullin’s heart.

PRAYERS FOR CONFERENCE. LONDON, Oct. 2

A specially written prayer for the Imperial Conference’s deliberations is being said at Westminster Abbey.

PREFERENCE OPPOSED.

BY BRITISH LABOUR

LONDON, Oct. 2

Tlie “Daily Herald,” in an editorial, says: The Premiers of Australia and South Africa spoke frankly on the issue of Imperial preference. We must be equally frank. Such preferential tariffs as Air Scullin and General Hertzog suggest would mean the establishment of a protection system in this country, including, taxation of the poor and raw material. To such a change the people of this country are opposed. The Dominion statesmen will blunder seriously if they take the trumpeting? of Lords Rothermere and Beaverbrook for the authentic voice of Great Britain British Lalmiir regards any attempt to regulate trade by. taxing it as antiquiated, and urges Air Scullin and General Hertzog to consider whether it is not in the. direction of hulk purchase by*a public authority that cooperation is achievable.” The other papers suspend their comment on the preference question....

.GOSSIP ABOUT THE CONFERENCE. AIOSTLY NEW FIGURES. } LONDON, Oct. 2. The present Imperial Conference is unique in the number of novitiates which it includes. Tlie MacDonald Government itself has never led f Conference before. The great majority of the delegates are debutantes.

Tlie earlier editions of the evening papers made the Conference their front .page lead story, with headings such as -‘One Quarter of the World Confers;” and “Family Gathering m Locarno Room;” Ibnt this pride o! position was soon superseded by other news items.

The members of the Conference themselves are settling down to the usual crowded lives of delegates, with morning and afternoon meetings at Whitehall,' and speechmaking and dinners in the evening. They are already finding a difficulty to crowd in private interviews.