THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43090, 9 May 1907, Page 4

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

By the adoption of Lord Elgin’s compromise the Imperial Conference bias'been endowed with a definite constitution, and the Conference will in future hold rank ns one of the Empire’s permanent and most important institute ons. ‘As Mr Botha very wisely declared, it is wise to build slowly, and, aching! on that principle, Lord Elgin has devised a constitution whiicih seems to avoid the dangers which Sir Wilfrid Laurier apprehended as likely to follow the establishment of a more authoritative organisation, while at the same time providing a recognised medium for the solution of imperial problems. The idonferenlce of statesmen which Mr Chamberlain's happ 7 thought brought into .being remains 9; Conference still, but it ceases to ‘be mereilv a complimentarv function, and becomes a fixed asset of the Imperial oartnership. The fretentTian of the original tribe imperial Conference,’ in preference to the more pretentious designation of 4 Umperijal Council/ as proposed by the Hon. Alfred Deakin, is due to the suggestion of the Canadian Premier, which Sir Wilfrid Laurier evidently urged to sufih good purpose as to secure the approval of all the colonial Premiers. It remains, of course, for the Home and 'Colonial Governments to givle effect to the constitution approved by the Conference; but we think, it mav be taken for granted that the necessary confirmation will follow as a matter of course. In that case the Imperial Conference will meet regularly every four years,

under the Presidency of the Prime Minister of Great Britain. Our Wanganui contemporary thinks that this in itself is a substantial step forward. But the constitution' also provides the necessary machinery for keeping the organisation in working order during \thet intervals. This very ; desirable enid is to be attained bv the appointment of ‘a permanent secretariat, Charged under the direction of the Secretary of State for the Colonies with' the dutv of obtaining information for the use of the Conferences, a,friending to resolution, and conducting the necessary 4borrespondencie; it being also provided that should matters of importance arise between' two or

more Governments which 'cannot be

postponed until the next, conference, - or involving subjects of minor character requiring detailed consideration, a subsidiary conference shall be held between representatives of the Governments teoncermad.”