THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1907. THE COLONIAL CONFERENCE IN LONDON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8379, 13 March 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1907. THE COLONIAL CONFERENCE IN LONDON.

Sanguine people are expecting very great things of the Colonial Conference, which is about to be held in London. It is just possible, and even probable, that the results will" be small in comparison with these great |i expectations. The British public and its Governments, whether Con- [ servative, Liberal or Radical, are proverbially slow to make changes in i their colonial and foreign policy, and it seems likely that they will not yield to the persuasive eloquence of the Colonial Premiers to make new departures at an early date, on some of the matters which, it is understood, will be discussed at the Conference. Two of the most important i subjects for consideration are what is called preference for colonial produce —which means tariffs on like commodities imported into Britain from other countries-J-and Imperial defence. In regard to the first matter, we may say that politicians who have lived in Britain in recent'years are well convinced that a large majority of the voters are most hostile to any interference with the free trade principle, even though such interfersnce might enhance the prosperity of the colonies. Of course, we who live south of the line heartily wish that it were otherwise; we all desire to see the trade of the Empire confindd within the limits of the Empire; and so also do the inhabitants of Britain, providing it is not going to increase their cost of living. But there is the rub. Most people in the Home land Relieve it would seriously increase the cost of living to them, and also provoke a war of tariffs with peoples who have long been amongst their best customers. But while this is all true, inhabitants of the United Kingdom have in increasing numbers in recent years shown a very decided disposition to purchase colonia? in preference to foreign food stuffs; and the visit of the Colonial Premiers is likely to.

considerably increase the number of customers for colonial goods. The Australasian- colonies have,not yet, exploited to any extent the large provincial markets of Britain, but this, we hope, will soon be done by our own colony, and when it is done New Zealanders will know how extremely popular their produce is in the Old Land. On the question of Imperial defence, the democracy of Britain may, in our opinion, be stirred up by a well-devised scheme, and we have heard it confidently stated in some quarters, likely to be well-in-formed, that our' own Premier will have suggestions to make to the Conference which may result in a much more effective system of Empire defence. All the able-bodied men in the Empire ought to be made good mai'kwien. This is surely practicable by making rifle- practice compulsory on all able-bodied men, and by giving the necessary facilities, and tie necessary stimulus in the form of. substantial money prizes the best shots in the rifle clubs. A man can be taught military drill in a few months, but .it usually takes years to make a marksman capable of hitting the bulls-eye every time or thereabouts.; It is too much to hope , that the Colonial Conferene will result in an Empire of marksmen, and the best possible sea defences, but we rn;\y reasonably expect that measures will be agreed upon carrying tho Empire further along the road towards that desirable goal. We had a cable message a few days ago stating that someone had asked the Prime Minister of England to arrange for ; the Colonial Premiers addressing the House of Commons from the Bar of the House; that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman had replied that there was no precedent for this course, and that it was not desirable. Persons who appear at the Bar of the House of Commons are generally, if not always, there as offenders against law, or against the privileges of the House. Therefore, it hardly seems desirable that the Colonial Premiers should be' invited to stand at the Bar of the House. But we see no reason why the privileges-of members of the House should not be accorded to them for one sitting. Colonial representatives are pretty sure to' be sitting in that House some day, and perhaps that 'day is much nearer than many people think. It would delight the people of Britain no less than the peoples of the colonies to read the speeches of the Colonial Premiers delivered from the floor of the House of Commons. Perhaps after all the Premiers will be honoured in this as in many other 'ways. They will be guests of the King and Queen, of the Premier, and of many of the more important Corporations and public bodies of Britain, and are sure to return home ' thoroughly satisfied with the cordiality of the British welcome, and full of hope for the future of Great Britain and her colonies.