IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 17 May 1907, Page 3

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

THE WORK ACHIEVED. PRESS SUMMING UP. Loudon, May 16. The Telegraph says that Mr Deakin was the central figure of the Conference. He returns to tell his own people that, though he has not secured all he desircil for them, he had acomplished much perhaps more than he expected wlion lie sailed. The Post finds the words of the resolution, "within reasonable cost.'' offer a loophole for Ministerial escape fvor-i practical action. The Post contrast* Sir Joseph Ward's enlightened energ,* and far-sightedness, in advocating shipping subsidies as a potent means of Imperial consolidation, which Mr LlovdGeorge's emphasising of dilliciilties without expressing any enthusiastic desire to overcome them.

The Chronicle says the principle of the red route has been accepted. .Meanwhile, with regard to the general work of the Conference, if Lord Elgin constitutes a Secretariat, which stron'dv sets 'to work and promptly, it will increase the Conference's success from a business standpoint. The Daily News says the Conference was a memorable one, of practical conrern and achievement. It had given the Conference regular practice in the working of the Empire and had created a Secretariat which ought to help the Motherland equally with the colonies in the matter of information.

The Daily News says it is glad Mr Lloyd-George was careful not to commit himself regarding a fast mail service, and adds that subsidies and bounties are Aot so bad as prohibitive tariffs, but they are unsound and will discriminate unfairly between different firms and different industries. Why should the taxpayer subsidise one firm rather than another—one industry rather than another? The Times says that, whatever the future historians verdict in regard to particular issues, its genera l purport will be to dwell on the Conference of 1007 as a remarkable illustration of the pow erful influence of such gatherings in the formation of public opinion, and insist on its moral effects. The Conference, destined, like other British institutions, destined, lie other British institutions, to grow. An all-British route, via Canada and Australasia, is a subject demanding expert examination, but a plan ought not to be adopted or rejected on mere considerations of profit and certain contingencies the route might be of strategic importance. "Our experience, also that of Italy and Germany, "that few things contribute more powerfully to directly consolidating nation- I al sentiment thaii easy, constant com- I munieation."

The Standard says that eveything else pales besides the Government's wooden, unimaginative determination to take no steps conceivably promoting the commercial federation of the Empire, but the leaven is working, and the colonies' attitude has made a profound impression on the Motherland.

THE PREFERENCE QUESTION.

ADDRESSES TO CITY MEN.

Received IGth, 10.3 p.m. London, May lii. A crowded meeting of city men, held at the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange, gave Dr. Jameson and Mr. Deakin a tremendous reception. Dr. Jameson said he was disappointed that the Conference had not made a decisive step forward in the direction of the consolidation of the Empire. Whatever had been achieved was mainly due to Mr. Deakin's energy, pluck, and eloquence. The substitution of the word "Imperial" instead of "Colonial" Conference, meant the emancipation of the Conference from the aegis of the Colonial Office. It meant that future Conferences would be as between Governments. He regretted that effective machinery for the consolidation of the Empire had not been obtained, owin<* to the Secretariat, after the hardest light at the Conference, remaining a department of the Colonial Office. He was convinced the present arrangements would prove such a failure that the Premiers would obtain effecient machinery at the next Conference. Dr. Jameson argued that sentiment and material links were required to cement the Empire, and complained that the Government had not attempted to answer the Premiers' case for preference. They only knocked down bogeys of their own erection. He believed the Government was afraid to make even a little experiment in the direction of reciprocal trade, because it. would prove a success.

Mr. Deakin emphatically denied that the Premiers in the slightest degree attempted to embarass the Government from party political motives*. No reciprocity was possible unless preference was mutual. Australia was prepared to bnild her half of the bridge to the centre of the arch, where they must await the Motherland's approach before the keystone could be dropped which completes the structure.

Mr. Deakin declared that many of the arguments advanced to prevent tariff reform were absolutely contrary to Australian experience. He ridiculed :'ie importance attached to the phrase "immutable laws" in connection with free trade; imaginary laws would be truer. He dwelt on the small success sixty years advocacy of free trade had upon the world, and declared fairsiglited foreigners already foresaw the advent of preference within the British Empire, and were taking measures to secure the best markets, which would be •found in the British Colonies. If the prospect of preference did that, what would not a 10 per cent, duty accomplish. Australians were free traders to the extent of one-third of their imports, adopting free trade or protection according as it paid best. Mr. Deakin argued that commerce needed fostering, • and it was impossible to apply the principle of cooperation 1 letter than in developing the resources of one's own nation. Many argued that the Empire's strength rested on ships and the colonies' commerce, but without commerce there be neither ships nor colonies. The Empire was not only a great armed force, civilising agency, school of culture, but a gigantic business enterprise which ought to be directed on business principles. The Government's principal aim ought to be to fortify and sustain commerce. If our ancestors

fought to establish it surely it was worth our while to protect it." The Premiers wished to see the whole of the machinery of commerce, as well as public life, applied to securing the unity of the Empire. Although the Conference had failed to accomplish much directly, yet indirect the results repaid the sacrifices the delegates had made to attend. ■When other nations found commercial unity so enormously valuable as a means of developing national life, why should Britain throw aside so potent an instrument. The colonies' hands were still outstretched, because they recognised the present polite refusal of preference was

only temporary. Since the Empire's whole force was employed to protect trade in war time, surely it was justifiable to expect this country, and Empire to protect trade in peace time. Concluding, Mr. Deakin said "the colonics believe in you, even if you have ceased to believe yourselves. We believe within this Nation lies a force capable of rousing you to greater and move lofty heights than ever, enabling you to retain the proud position in which your forefathers placed you. (Prolonged cheers, the audience singing "For they are jolly good fellows.")

A NEW ZEALAND DINNER. SPEECHES BY SIR J. G. "WARD. Received 16th, 10.44 p.lll. London, May 10. At the New Zealand dinner at the Hotel Cecil, Lord Ranfurlv. Sir Gerard Smith. Dr. Fitchett, Mr. *O. (;. Stead, Mr. John Duthie. ?Tr. .Tas. Mill, and Mr. Iteethen. an<l 200 were present. The Hon. W. P. Reeves, presiding, said Xew Zealand had a dozen commercial trading strings to her bow, alt tending ti> licr prosperity. Her only disadvantage \v;is distance. Sir Joseph Ward voiced impolicy of the Empire of the future, when he appealed to the Conference to put its shoulder to the wheel by quickening anil cheapening communication. Extreme individualistic or protcrtionM doctrines may object to co-operating, but the Empire was built by practical men. Sir Joseph Ward sympathetically referred to the illness of the Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones. Tt had been impossible for himself to subscribe to the principle of the devolution; of naval defence, owing X■ l . . M.

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to the great liabilities the colony woul.l incur.

Received 17th, 12.7 a.m. c . T London, May 10. . J. C,. Ward, continuing, said the 1 rentiers did not. expect their views ou preference io be accepted. They were content to lay the principal before the Motherland. They were not egotistical enough to say, "i o u must follow.'' The reduction in distance between England and New Zealand to three weeks was no (lream. It would pay New Zealand over and over again to subsidise to the extent of a. hundred thousand pounds to secure such an Australasiaii-Yaneoiiver lin •. if Britain assists a Canadian-Britain line, thereby cheapening food by liriii"in."' producers Closer to the markets. The other colonies would do their part. Sir Westlv Percival. Mr. Jenkins, and Mr.. Montague Wilson also spoke. I Sir Joseph Ward, in a speech at TV ' tol. dwelt on the influence of the colonials in rejuvenating and strengllienin" the Motherland, and the development of niter-Imperial trade as means of closer i union.