BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIANS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 598, 30 August 1913, Page 5

BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIANS.

ENTERTAINED AT WELLINGTON. WELCOMED BY PARLIAMENT. I UNITY OF EMPIRE. ! , [ [BY TKl.t;<.,l;.\iM!. IT*i:-S ASSOCIATION.J j Wellington, Friday. | The New Zealand Government entertained the members of the visiting British parliamentarian? at Bellamy's to-day. In proposing the toast of the visitors the Hon. Mr Massey expressed pleasure in welcoming Lord j Emmott and party. It was n good j thing for Colonial statesmen to visit England, but it; was even mere important fcr Imperial statesmen to villi t the oversea Dominions. He did not. want to bring about any sudden change in tho constitution of the Empire, but he did want to see every par', of the Empire joined to the Empire by ties as slight as silk, but stronger than Lord Emmott. in replying, referred j to New Zealand's gift of a battleship j and to the stimulus that action had ! given to Imperial matters throughout the Empire. lie observed that the Committee of the Privy Council had been increased from five io seven, and saw no reason why New Zealand should not be represented I hereon. Real progress was being made towards Imperial unity, and he honed all would work together to rnitko the Empire approximate as closely as possible to their ideals. Mr B. McMaster also responded to the toast. He congratulated Now /Zealand on its progress and prosperity. They did not require to be assured of New Zealand's loyalty and patriotism. There were no peopie on the face of the earth who appreciated New Zealand's patriotism mors than the people of England. Sir Joseph Ward proposed ibebenith of the visitors. In a well chosen speech,hefsaid New Zealand wris anxious for unity of Empire, and he hoped England would push forward the laying of a State-owned cable .".cross the Atlantic co as to cement the connection between Britain and the overseas Governments. The Hon. T. Lough, responding, said on behalf of both behalf of both political parties at Home thai; there was never any idea on the part of the Home Government of doing anything but justice to the overseas Dominions. They hoped to bring cable charges from England to New Zealand down from 3s per word to .'Hi per word.

Sir S. Stephen and Mr W. Crooks also referred to the apparent prosperity of the Dominion. The gathering concluded with the National Anthem.