AUSTRALIA'S HIGH COMMISSIONER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 337, 12 March 1910, Page 5

AUSTRALIA'S HIGH COMMISSIONER.

BANQUETTED IN LONDON. IMPERIAL SENTIMENTS. By Canle.—Prees Association.—Copyright ileoeived March 11, 10.15 p.m. London, March 11. Mr. Coghlan presided at the Australian banquet to Sir George Reid at the Trocai.'io. The 225 guests included Lords Brassev. Lamington, ml Strathcona, Admiral Bridge, and many leading Austrian representatives of banks, financial and shipping firms. Sir Harrv Rawson, replying to the toast of the Imperial Forces, hoped the Australian fleet would soon take its share in protecting trade routes. Mr. Henniker Heaton also replied. JTp said th» Australian army was composed of highly intelligent men, but the Australian military forces had not made the advance which Australia demands, 'because the Government had not ucilto th? utmost the advantage of the British A;my as qualified instructors. ITe urged Sir G. H. Reid to trv and induce Aust-.:! lia to ask the War Office for i lie assistu ce so urgently required. Mr. foglilan, in proposing Sir G. H. Reid's health, eulogised his work m Australia. It was a strange and agreeable coincidence,that,the. man who atmle Feder-i j<jn' practi«i3)le:. ; should '"bfr its first. repre«enta<iye..at the heart oOhe Empire.. ' : ~ ' : .i Sir George Reid said the Australian tvpe shows Australian development to be unler the glorious heredity and "n----vironmnt of British peonle. " He was sure Australian finance had not been carried too far, and In emphasised the fact (hat nearly the whole Australian debt had been spent on reproductive work*. Every pound spent wisely :.n immigration was the best -pnrodu'ctive exuenrtiture that Australia could make. All the great parties in Australia would preserve the traditions of honesty which are the honor and glory of the from which the Australians had sprung. He ac.'-opted to-night's reception as a compliment to a great Commonwealth. You may transplant the people, he said, but as lonor as thev are under the flaj. all th-»y produce is the verv life-blood of th's^ country. Throuehout Australia there is an instinct of fearless independence, there is devoted loyalty to the Th.-one, and affection for the people of tliis noble realm, which will serve to <1 evel, ifi (he ever-increasing strength and power of Imperial destiny.