IMPERIAL UNITY

Southland Times, Issue 20081, 19 January 1927, Page 5

IMPERIAL UNITY

DOMINIONS' ATTITUDE

IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP DESIRED

MR COATES AT CANADIAN CLUB

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

(Rec. 5.5.p.m.) Ottawa, January 17. Stressing the need for developing interEmpire trade, particularly between Canada and the Antipodes, in an address at the Canadian Club at Toronto to-day, Mr Coates also dealt with Imperial policy. He said the great mass of the people throughout the dominions favoured binding the Empire still closer. “There was no desire on the part of anyone at the Conference to pull away or break up any portion of the Empire. Our task is to improve communications. We should set about to arrange an interchange of opinions between the representatives of the various dominions. lam referring particularly to the political. not the economic side. It is only a question of understanding. There is no people more fitted to deal with questions as they come up than those of British stock. It seems to me that those who talk

about the breaking up of the Empire—well it seems the wish is father to the thought. But the great mass of the people desire to maintain the bonds of Empire.” Mr Coates referred to New Zealand’s attractions to tourists and the loyally of the Maoris to the Crown. He said, “The country’s most valued asset is the people themselves. They are 99 per cent. British.” The New Zealand Premier concluded with a reference to commercial relations, stating, ‘All the Government can do is just to clear the way, removing any little obstacle that may arise, but any real responsibility rests with the manufacturers themselves.”

Henry O’Byrne, of Toronto, who paid all the expenses of Young when training on the Pacific Coast preparatory to the Catalina Marathon, will receive ten thousand dollars of the prize money.

Mr Coates commenting on Y r oung’s performance said, “We too are very proud to know that Young belongs to the Empire. We have boy and girl swimmers in New Zealand, but none so great as your champion. I hope this boy receives all the fitting complimentary rewards and benefits he deserves.”—A. and N.Z.

TRADE AGREEMENT.

MR COATES SEEKS IMPROVEMENT

(Rec. 10.35 p.m.) Ottawa, January 18. Before tearing Toronto for Winnipeg last night Mr Coates had a conference with the Federal Minister for Trade and Commerce, Mr Malcolm.

It is understood that the subject of discussion was a trade agreement between Canaria and New Zealand more favourable to New Zealand than the present arrangement. —A. and N.Z.