IMPERIAL FEDERATION

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1916, Page 4

IMPERIAL FEDERATION

SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARfIA GREAT IMPERIAL N,\VY ÜBGEf INDUSTRIAL CHANGES NECESSARY. /itistrallan-'N.Z. Cable Association. Received Nov. 20, 8.30 p.m. London, Nov. 2ft; Sir Joseph Ward addressed a large meeting of the Insurance Institute at Gresham College, 'l'lio Lord Mayor and many city notables attended.

The speech emphasised that in the future reconstruction of the Empire there could not bis any interference with local autonomy. Though an Imperial Parliament might be a long way off, they might now work for some effective Imperial Counil or Defence Council. Before un organic Parliament was possible there must be a devolution, and Britain must pave the way for a Federal Legislature, so that the Dominions overseas may have tho right to even a minority voire as to whether the nation should, go to war, or what peae terms should be entertained. Hie', quoted Mr. Asquith's speech at the 1611' Conference, wherein it was stated thafi| an Imperial Parliament scheme would' impair the authority of the British Parliament. Sir Joseph Ward adde4 that since then there -had been a great evolution of opinion on the subject, and M''- Bonar Law had declared that, as the result of tho war, "the time waa coming when the overseas Dominions, would share the government of the Em-J piro with Britain. He hoped that feelore the war ended some modus vivendt would be established. He Advocated thai creation of a, great Imperial Navy, 1 While ho was proud of what Australia had done, none of the overseas Dominions could bear the tost of separate navies, for our new territories in the Pacific demanded a greater fleet there in the future.

Dealing with economics, Sir Joseph Ward said there must be great industrial changes, for the colossal debt which every part of the Empire would i.'avfi to bear made it the bounden duty of each to help the others. Mr. Lloyd George's financial scheme early in the war proved that it was prnctiwiblo to have an Empire partnership. When the war was over the heart of tho Chancellor of the Exchequer had pot to be softened on the question o{ doubla iiitoine tax. We should not compel a, man who paid a tax in 0110 part of tho Empire to pay it in another. He urged consideration of an emigration scheme, to keep people within the Empire