THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 322, 8 June 1911, Page 5

THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

BRITON AND BOER. THEN AND NOW: A STRIKING CONTRAST. SUEZ CANAL EXTORTIONS. A BAR TO CLOSER UNITY. By cable.—Press Association,—Copyright Received 7, 11 p.m. London, June 7. General Botha, in a speech at Bristol, contrasted the occasion with the time •when he did his very best to prevent Englishmen from surrounding him. They were now surrounding him as friends, he representing a country where the English and Dutch had grasped hands in friendship for ever. Mr. Fisher, Sir Joseph Ward and General Botha visited Avonmouth dock. They were the guests of the local Cham-, ber of Commerce at dinner. Sir Joseph Ward, responding to the toast of "The Prime Ministers of the Overseas Dominions," dealt with the closer union of the Motherland and the practical work of the Imperial Conference, and said in the latter connection that it was no use assembling unless they left a record of •work telling its tale in 'the future. He believed the present Conference would show a record of work that would prove valuable to those attending tho next conference. He wanted to take the opportunity presented at this meeting of representatives of commerce and ship: ping to-ask them to consider how to get rid of the detestable toll-bar between Britain and the dominions in the shape of the extortionate charges on every ton of cargo traversing the Suez Canal. If they desired to bring the distant portions of the Empire closer they must have —e means of transport as cheap as possible. THE BLOOD - SUCKING POLICY 0¥ THE SUEZ CANAL. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S DENUNCIA-

TION. Received 7, 11.35 p.m. London, June 7. .Sir Joseph Ward, continuing, said a company had stated that a sum of £30,000 was imposed annually on one line of steamers traversing the canal. The sum was equal to 'the whole payments made for officers and men. Was it not time Britain and France, as owners of the Suez Canal, began to realise that over a million .sterling taken, as far as one partner was concerned, from the pockets of those using the canal, over and above the dividend of 3 per cent, on the capital, was extortionate? Ere long our American cousins, who were going to control the Panama Canal, would show that they had not made the mistake of putting a large bar against shipping and the development of trade across the Pacific. His motion brought the question before the last Conference, and he heartily endorsed Mr. Fisher's efforts in the same direction at this Conference. It was a matter of exceptional importance in connection with perishable products. He concluded by urging the Motherland to co-operate with Canada. Australia and New Zealand to secure the completion of a State-owned cable, projected several years ago, whereof the first link had already been successfully laid across the Pacific to Cajiada.

General Botha emphasised the farreaching importance of the Imperial Government's decision to take the dominions into its confidence in relation to external problems. This policy would greatly strengthen the cause of Imperial unity.