THE EMPIRE'S PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 24 April 1907, Page 3

THE EMPIRE'S PARLIAMENT

■o— THE IMPERIAL PARTNERSHIP. . .VIEWS AND Pfihss OPINIONS. AN EXCELLEn7Tv£BK'S WORK. * mu « London, April 22. The Daily Telegraph says that conference of Prime .Ministers of the Emplr. is now a fact. Each has a responsibility toiiis own part of the Empire while as a body the Premiers are ie- , sponsible to the whos Empire. licit is a great gain. The Daily News declares that it i> fatting such great s>eps should be made BMler the aegis of a Liberal Govercmi., As tue mouthpiece of permanent officials, it had conceded the Conference all the trappings of national indepenu- ! cnee and Imperial partnership, while ' clawing it more firmly to Downing ' Street. The News proceeds to eulogise v klna coura Se «n<l regrets tuat •' Sir \V. Laurier des-ated the cause of the l younger nations. J

Mr Deakin states tuat neither he nc *oZr ther f l>remie '' «>er suggested the creation of an authoritative body with executive legislative jurisdiction. Lord Ehjto s denunciation Q f an independent body which would interfere with autonomy is beside the question, since no on* ever hinted at sucu a proposal. All ttrough, Mr Deakin, Sir J. G Ward i>r Jame|on and Mr Moor had simply been lighting for the independence of future conferences in regard to the Colonial Office that would be won at next conference.

The Times declares mat the reason the Conference did not go jurther was that ™ «emiera were not unanimous. MeanNShile, for the common consultation so necessary to avoid mianaKes in Imperial policy, we must look to the ample use of subsidiary conferences. The Tribune predicts that the common business of the Empire will be notably facilitated.

The Daily Mail says: "Lord Elgin's tuling at the first sitting—that Ministers accompanying Premiers were expected to remain within call of ihe Colonial Office in case they were wanted lor consultation—was a delicate request to withdraw, ihe phrase 'within call astounded Ministers, who were indignant, and asked why they had been brought to England unless for the purpose of participating in the Conference. Sir William Lyne propounded two alternatives—either that he be treated as a member of the Conference or leave the country in 21 hours. The threat bad its effect."

•The Standard expresses satisfaction with the progiess made, considering the British spirit of caution and compromise. A stroke of the pen abolishes the conception of the sister States as dependencies of- the Motherland. Britain's Premier will in future be primus _ inter pares. The Doily Express ueclares that the week's work was excellent. The Daily Graphic hopes an UnderSecretary will be appointed to superintend the new division to deal with selfgoverning States. Ottawa, April 22. The Toronto Mail, the chief organ of the Conservatives complains that Sir Wilfrid Laurier's attitude at the Conference is cold, indifferent, and unfair tojrarda Canada. ME. G. H. REDO INTERVIEWED. . : Sydney, April 23. The Right Hon. G. H. Reid, interviewed, said he was glad Mr Deakin's proposal had been modified so as to leave the arrangements in connection with the Imperial Conference very much as they were. The Importance and dignity of future conferences would be augmented considerably by the fact that the British Prime Minister would be ex officio pre- * jtident. Referring to Sir W. Lyne's he declared that wherever Sir Lyne went there was some china broken. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE SECUETARIATE. A NEWSPAPER VIEW. Received 23rd. 11.18 p.m. London, April 23. The Daily Chronicle says the Impeiral Conference Secretariate has been belittled in some quarters as a triumph for buraucracy, but we trust Lord Elgin will not so interpret it. However ably manned, the Colonial Office does not enjoy the whole-hearted confidence of colonials. The Secretariat should be so organised by the infusion of actual colonial experience as to command and equally deserve confidence. TRANSVAAL DEFENCE PROPOSAL. ORGANISATION OF BURGHER VOLUNTEERS. Received 23rd. 11.18 p.m. London, April 23. ' According to the military correspondent of the Standard, Mr Louis Botha submits to the Conference, for the approval o,f the Home Government a proposal for the establishment of the voluntary defence of the Transvaal by the organisation of burghers into battalions . on the principle of volunteers in British countries, with the right to field pieces for the mounted forces.