THE PREMIERS AT HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 22 April 1907, Page 3

THE PREMIERS AT HOME.

EPOCH-MARKINb ENTERTAINMENTS. London, April 10. At the Unionist banquet, Sir "Wilfrid Laurier oinphaVically denied the argument that in the absence of mutual preference Canada would desert hor British policy and seek markets in the United states. Til- speech of the evening was Mr Deakin's, who in an oration arou cd intense enthusiast. lie traced the I lii«l<>ry of tin- i-<-ulVre»n> until Sir li Campbcll-liarnioi'man this week, appreciating what the conferences were be- ; coming, boldly hlen'tined himself with 1 their recognition as a meeting of Government with Governments by cr nion recognition of all its members. A? would be presently «l-c)osed, it would t:\ke a more definite shape and p?nn;ineat character. Only that nation whie! l had created self-government was able to solve the problem of a world Kmpin —namoly. freedom ii, unity. Then our fate would not be too vast an act, inasmuch as we woula shoulder it together. , • i*- i King Edward the Premier and tiieir ladies at Buckingham Pa,'ac< during the >ccon(l week in May. Mnnch'-u-r and Edinburgh confer t hefreedom "of those citio* on the Premiers. The Imperial Industrial Club luncheoned the Premiers. Mr Dcakin and Sir W. Lyne were absent. There were 2000 present, including Lord Jersey and the Lord Mayor (Sir William Treloar). ' /~ Sir J. G. Ward, replying to the toasc )f "The Premiers." said Now Zealand ,vas anxious to secure an interchange of trade. She required no concession*. The Premiers would go back impressed by the removal of some of the discordant elements which used to exist. PTLGPvIMS' CLUB BANQUET. AN ILLUSTRIOUS GATHERING. THE COLONIES ANI) EMPIRE DE FENCE. SPEECHES BV DEAKIN AND WARD London, April 20. Received 21st. 4 p.m. Lord Roberts presided at the Pilgrims' Club banquet to the Premiers. A brilliant gathering, numbering some 350. included the Dukes of Argyll, Devonshire and Sutherland, the Marquis of Salisbury and the Earls Cawdor, Crewe. Carrington, and Elgin. Amongst others present were ex-Ministers, the American Ambasasdor, the lion. Mr. Reeves, and Lord Stratheona. The American Pilgrims telegraphed good wishes to the Premiers, who were not the least shining lights of the Empire. Sir Edward* Grey, proposing the toasl of the Premiers, said the greatest glory of the Empire was the relations existing between the Motherland and the selfgoverning colonics. The word '•Colony'' now meant freedom, and Empire meant loyal affection. Our future depended on our being true to ourselves and true to each other. Formerly, he said, it had been believed that freedom and union

were incompatible; now we show they are not only compatible, but inseparable. Mr. Deakin, replying, said he regarded the Conference as the germ of the association which will enable Premiers to speak in their mother's house without bated breath, because they were members of the same family. He believed

Great Britain would come to be known as "Greatest Britain" during the present century. Hitherto the Empire had been able to .stand, sustained by mutual affection, but he feared its sea-power would not remain unchallenged. Australia, in undertaking the task of selfdevelopment, hoped to accomplish for the Empire in the Southern Seas the certainty of ports of security for commerce, coasting stations for the Imperial war ships, and food supplies for the Imperial squadrons. They had some near European neighbors in the South Seas, within striking distance, who would not have been there if the British Govern ment had listened to Australia's early warnings. * Continuing. Mr. Deakin said that when

reproached with being sensitive and alarmed, Australia was unable to regret that it was not her fault that strangers IMd a citadel so near to her own. Aws-

trillions refused to believe that Australian interests could lie separated from those of the whole Empire. Co.iTd Aitralia lose or gain anything that the Empire did not lose or gain. If they really were, as they, believed, one people, with one policy, one flag, one throne, wan it not to Australian interests to stand back to back against the common enemies of the Empire. Sir Joseph Ward stated that Xew Zealand. to a large extent, re-echoed .Mr. Deakin's sentiments, though in some details they did not see eve to eve. He preferred Xew Zealand's'efforts'to render every mau aide to assist to defend; their hearths and homes. Having a smaller coast line than Australia, New Zealanders were convinced that their best policy was, instead of ■■stabl.s'-iiig an independent navy, to make material contributions of money and men to the British Xavy, because they knew that should trouble arise their country's future would depend not upon any settlement by the guns of their warships at the mouths of their rivers, but upon events happeuing thousands of miles away. (Applause).

Lord Roberts, responding to the toast, of his health, declared the vast majority of the nation earnestly hoped the Conference would promote Imperial Unity.