The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET AUCKLAND MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 1930 MR. FORBES GOING HOME

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1059, 25 August 1930, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET AUCKLAND MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 1930 MR. FORBES GOING HOME

THERE may be a mutter of protest here and there on the score of economy about the number of the Prime Minister’s party which is to leave Auckland tomorrow for London to attend the Imperial Conference in October, but the majority of people will sanction the mission with unqualified goodwill and without any desire to count its cost. / Of its kind the delegation is the largest that has been sent abroad from this country on Empire affairs. This may prove to be an advantage in the special circumstances of the occasion.

Apart from the fact that Mr. Forbes, like the majority of Prime Ministers who will assemble in Downing Street, is a stranger to such conferences, lie realises in the strength of his robust common sense that more than ever (the war conferences may be excluded from comparison) there is need of talking things over face to face with representative administrators of the ‘Empire, all of whom are confronted with the same problems. In any case six heads are better than one or two, and Mr. Forbes is to be commended, instead of being censured churlishly, for reinforcing New Zealand’s delegation with a legal colleague and several departmental advisers. Although the Attorney-General, Sir Thomas Sidey, is not to be an official delegate in the full sense of the term, his advisory position at the conference will be of valuable assistance to the Prime Minister on many legal questions. There is wisdom, too, in associating the Comptroller of Customs with the fiscal work and responsibilities of the delegation. Dr. C. Craig's task in exploring the tariff ground in Canada and preparing for Mr. Forbes a way to a modified trade treaty with the great Dominion, so that a retaliatory Customs warfare between tlie two countries may not be carried on to mutual disadvantage, will call for an exercise of tact and alert ability. As for the inclusion of Mr. F. D. Thomson, permanent head of the Prime Minister’s Department and Clerk to the Executive Council, the delegation would not have been complete without him. No other official of the State has a wider or a more intimate knowledge of Imperial Conferences or a more complete mastery of procedure and precedent. As for the prospective conference itself, there need not he too high anticipation of great results. The history of Imperial Conferences is not rich in outstanding achievement, and it is not likely that the October assembly of Empire Prime Ministers will be an exception to the rule. It. cannot be expected to accomplish a great deal for the simple reason that it must remain far short of being anything like an Imperial Parliament or a Council of Empire. Of course, it may give a lead to all the Empire’s Parliaments, as it has done in the past, but nothing more, for it cannot impose its will or even its considered opinions on Any administration or legislature. This year most of the delegations will meet in circumstances representing great changes in polities since the previous conference. The political whirligig has wrought transformation on and among many parties throughout the Empire. - Labour rules in Great Britain and has done well both in Imperial and international affairs. Indeed, it lias fared better abroad llif.n at home. Australia also will be represented at the conference by the leader of i socialistic Government whose Socialism-these days is in need of solace as well as sacrifice. New faces and new political ideas will represent both Canada and New Zealand. Altogether, the political mixture at the conference will be a strange brew for the Empire pot. But there is no prospect of its boiling over and scalding the delegates. There are no parties at the Imperial Conference and no foolish partisanship. All are for the Empire.

The 'delegates will have a splendid opportunity to render useful service. Trade depression and other economic difficulties are common to all parts of the Empire, and although remedies may and inevitably must differ, the same principle of remedial treatment is applicable to them all. There is no doubt about the extent and sincerity of mutual respect, understanding and goodwill. Tt is not necessary even to discuss Imperial sentiment. What, the whole Empire wants and needs is better trade within its own borders, a quickening of enterprise with more land settlement. and industrial employment, and perfect unity in everyday relationship and affairs.