Approval of New Zealand Proposals.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8807, 8 May 1907, Page 3

Approval of New Zealand Proposals.

In the course of his reply Mr LloydGeorge said the results of the Conference just finished must bo considered in many respects as being of first-class importance to British trade. The Conference itself was largely a new departure, but bo believed its success would justify a repetition of representation. One good thing had resulted: it had enabled them to meet face to face instead of talking thousands of miles away, and thus they had been ablo to clear .up many misunderstandings. Talking across the seas they were liable to imagine difficulties and allow suspicion to take the place of knowledge of each other’s true position, but when they sat around ouo table many things they were apprehensive about they found had no ground for fear at all. Proceeding, ho said it was perfectly true that New Zealand and Australia had rights, and these the Imperial author.ties conceded before imposing any conditions linked upon their own coastal trade, but he would ask again, although he had received an assurance .that this would not be done, that local regulalations in their severity should not be made to apply disadvantageonly to British ships. The shipping of the Old World had to contend against foreign competition which was growing daily. Although he was glad to say that Britain is still holding her own, they would much like their kinsmen in thosouthern seas to help and not hinder. Sir Joseph Ward had raised matters of first moment. In the course of his speech he had referred to two or three questions brought before the Imperial Conference the other day in an extraordinary and able speech, a speech which he could say from his own knowledge, had impressed itself very strongly upon the Imperial .delegates and the Imperial Government. Sir Joseph Ward put before them certain suggestions in regard to which the Imperial Government might indicate what they were doing. They feere giving them the best consideration at {Hjf moment, and it was mors than probable that something would be said at fhe Conference on Monday. He had no right to anticipate what the result would be, but Sir Joseph Ward bad raised three practical suggestions and these are now being debated, which ho hoped they would bo able to give satis factory answers to before the Colonial Premiers left the city. ' On certain questions the point of view’ of the present Government may ho different from that of New Zealand and Australia, which they recognised could not be given effect to owing to political exigencies, but they could recoguise that other things may bo done to assist to bring the colonies closer to England. He considered the suggestions of Sir Joseph Ward worthy of practical consideration. Taking Imperial cbuiinunications he' was of opinion that the subject was purely a' business proposal, and what they had to consider was whether it was tho best thing in the interests of Britain as well as of the Empire fts a whole, and upon that condition alone. Ha agreed with Sir Joseph Ward that it was of tho greatest importance that as portions of tho Empire Were scattered thousands of miles from each other, that they should shorten the miles of communication. The first thing the Romans did was to make roads. Our roads are across seas, and what Sir Joseph Ward suggests is that our Appian way be improved, aud shorten the dime from here to New Zealand. It takes us sis weeks now, and tho suggestion of Sir Joseph Ward, fortified subsequently by Sir Wilfrid Lauricr, is that it can bo done in three weeks. This mutter was of great importance and did not depend on such political problems as fiscal policy. Then tho suggestion in respect to tho Suez Canal duos was an important matter, and ho did not see why the Imperial Government could not assist with tho object' of x-educing rates, thus lightening the burden on ships trading between Australia and New Zealand and tho Mother Country. These subjects were being considered and lie would be surprised if, something was not done to meet the proposals of Sir Joseph 'Sard, He wad' sure that if instead of

fetossing purely ‘ debateable matter the* colonies and the Mother Country, as has been done in real earnest round the table, they would, with a view of arriving at a decision, carefully consider such suggestions, and he was satisfied they would net separate without something tangible being done to bring distant parts of tbo Empire closer to tbe Homeland and thus make a more united Empire. One way of doing so was by improving trade between the various parts of the Empire by quicker lines of communication. These things were being considered, and he could affirm that they were considering them with some practical purpose in view. At the conclusion of his address Mr Lloyd-George referred inflattering terms Mr Mills. He said ho was the principal of the greatest lino of steamers in the Southern Seas, a service favorably known throughout the world, and it was a great pleasure to himself as well as the other Imperial delegates to meet that gentleman for the first time. His experience in shipping matters had been of incalculable service, and ho bad impressed them all with tbe knowledge be possessed of subjects under review in the deliberations of the Conference; indeed Mr Mills’ remarks were given in a manner which did him honor, and it was difficult for the representative of the British eeamon (Mr Wilson, M.P.) to know whether he (Mr Mills) was really a shipowner or a seaman’s representative in view of his impartial and unbiased view on what was good for the shipping world. The good work done by Messrs Belcher and Hislop was favorably commented on, and bo personally thanked them for the able manner in which they also had dealt with subjects before the Conference.