Australia

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8102, 31 May 1906, Page 6

Australia

(ftt Blectric T«*egmph~~Copyright). • jPcr Pw«c AKIKWtBiIOII. ■■ umx)N, Msy AH hp Wt"< Australian Dinner, we IVon. W. E Keeve* vrnn amongst the Mr Oh«reiail, in rrofhvmiit the toast <rf "The CowinonmvaUh. Mud although every expectation hud not been <uHRIWtU federation wa# a great end glorious* event for one genera* ion to achieve, IKe present generation would reap solid advantages, nnd future generations would look UacK upon it with reverence and tnitlmuiasm. Australia » development had been grand, hut diffcrnt from that of any other -community in the world, Sometime* when hi- saw •the populous millions who had trodden the hush, worked in the great wlies. or who had remained forgotten and famished in the va»t expanse* of way<baek territory, ho considered thai Au«trAUsi. wah wee in following eohoetivist rather than competitive ideals, and watching with care tho fortunes of tho rearguard and weaker portions of the army of labour and industry. (Choers.) He'made complimentary reference to West Australia* progress eulogising Sir John Foirest'a public work. He wa« sure that in every part of Britain there wab a f;reat fcehni' of interest in and goodwill for the Commonwealth. They were all looking forward to the Imperial Conference. The occasion would revive

and expre»H the strong growing feeling ot sympathy ami agreement. Mr Churchill further stated that the conference would be free, unfettered, and practically a friendly diacusaion. It would have only one object, to develop everything promoting the larger unity of the Empire, and eliminate anything likely to prove harmful. The confercnee'would include law, Ktrategy, trade communication, education, and science, any one whereof was well worthy the collective intelligence and combined discussion of the Empire's representatl%lU* hoped that intercolonial preference would be discussed. It was easj (or two tariff States «.o make a reciprocal adjustment, and it was an infinitely smaller thing for them to make such an adjustment mutually than a country possessed of a totally diffeieut sjstiiu. All reciprocal treaties such as were being discussed between the \arictus colonies must he steps in the directum of that universal Imperial trade which undoubtedly it was our object ultimately to achieve. Mr Churchill, continuing, said the British Navy was strong enough to give practical security to Australia, but that was not enough. Australia must find the development of a national citizen volunteer army, the real and only guarantee which a strong nation should accept for its honor and existence. He advised the Australians not to identify themselves with any one party in the Motherland, but took to tho institutions above the. How of party politics, iho traditions aud Achievements of tho field of war and of learning, which were Australia's equally with the Motherland.