BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

RECONSTRUCTION OF EMPIRE. iPRESS COMMENT. London, June 15. 'i'he newspapers give prominence to Mr. Asquith's references to the reconstruction of the Empire. The Daily Telegraph says that Mr. Asquith evidently, contemplates summoning a great Imperial Conference which, will frame the details of and outline a new Imperial Constitution, on the lines of a supreme central authority and complete selfgovernment of its parts. Now that the head of the British Government has formally declared that the time has come to consider this gigantic problem, it will assume a new aspect, and the Irish problem will sink to its proper perspective.

The Times says that Mr. Asquith's statement will be received with deep satisfaction wherever the British flag flies. He sees that after this Imperial war, in which all our sister nations liavij lavished blood and treasure for the oommon cause, the old order must pass away. Never more can we invite our proud self-go?crninjr democracies to support us in wars which they have had no part in declaring. The Daily Chronicle says that Mr. Asquith's words regarding general Imperial reconstruction carry the matter forward into a new phase. The Daily Mail says: When the war is over very much more will be needed thaji the casual attendance of Overseas Ministers at the Cabinet councils or ;neetinpi for Imperial defence. We must pass to a close and collective review of the relations between the Motherland and her dominions, the Crown colonies and dependencies. At present we have next to no unity, no machinery for co-operative action, no common trade policy, no visible organic alliance, and no definite system of government.

LABOR MINISTER'S SPEECH. 1 London, June 15. Speaking at a luncheon given in honor of Mr: Ryan, Premier of Queensby Mr, Fisher, Mr. Henderson (Minister of Education) said it was al-i most impossible to And language' to express the gratitude for the overseas assistance in the war. After it was over responsible' statesmen must see that the Empire ,was shaped in a sane and permanent mould. We wanted, an'! Empire not merely in name, but an Empire in fact, so as to enable the colonies to express their views on the great national policy..