THE PREMIER AT DUNEDIN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 248, 25 February 1911, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT DUNEDIN

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE INEFFEC- >' TIVE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Thursday. In the course of his reply to congratulatory speeches to-night, Sir Joseph Ward dealt mainly with the question of defence. Fifteen years ago he said it would have been impossible to put on the Statute Book such an Act as the Defence Act. The feveriah impetuosity of older countries in building Dreadnoughts was perhaps defensible from their point of view, but the British I Empire was most scattered and most difficult to defend. Therefore developments in other lnnds must be watched. It called on all portions of the Empire to show that the Empire was one, not only in time of peace but also in time of war. One of the Home difficulties in the Imperial Conference at present was that there was no machinery for carrying out the decision of the Conference. Without power to move as a solid body it was perhaps not complete, but such a gathering must ensure a very largo amount of good. The spreading of knowledge of the conditions of the Old Country amongst colonial politicians would ■ be of incalculable benefit, but it was more important for politicians of the Homeland to realise the conditions in the outposts of the Empire. The consummation of the Vancouver mail service was of stupendous importance. Increasing our nearness to all parts of the world by means of steam communication was' found to bring union and unanimity in action within the Empire should it arise. He asked those who doubted that the safety of the country depended on tho British Navy to look to the Far East, where one country had a population of 350 millions. In a few days those people could land in Australia in an unthinkable number. Suppose that only five or ten millions of those people were able in a'bout twenty years' time to get to New Zealand, what would the workers do 1 If we wanted to ensure the preservation of these countries, we must cither help the British Navy or establish our own navy. One of the most important things to bo done at the Imperial Conference in the future was to consider how to preserve intact the scattered portions of the Empire by means of the British Navy. To-day there was a complete absence of machinery of the Government, but the time must come when the Empire would be focussed into some limited sphere where united action might be taken in whatever direction appeared best calculated to conserve the great interests under the control of respective Governments. Sir Joseph also laid stress on the importance of admitting the Press to the Imperial Conference.

Referring to other matters, Sir Josoph said we wanted the people at Home to realise that when measures affecting large interests here were reserved for Royal assent, Sew Zealand wanted to nave some influence. Referring to colored crews, lie said the Dominion wanted the Old Und to realise that we wanted to prevent any mixture of races here The question was whether the lasears should compete with white men receiving Arbitration Court wages. This was a very difficult question which required discussion at the Conference. The policy of XVw Zealand of ensuring a white race should be allowed through the medium of some flexibility of law, enabling Home people to do justice in other parts of the dominions and yet enable Xew Zealand to pursue her policy. The only power m Xew Zealand that should be allowed to say what races should be naturalised was the Government of the day. It was difficult for people in Knghind to realise he depth of feeling i„ Australasia on this question He believed a genuine elort would he made to secure uniformity f)l the law dealing with matters of common concern and many aspects of social legislation. In conclusion, Sir Joseph said it was no use having a conference and then having the results pigeon-holed. There must eome some means of puttiii" the resolutions in motion. The people °f the Homeland would desire to see the results carried into effect. He was very glad the Attorney-General was accompanying him.