THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8436, 7 May 1907, Page 5

THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

Received May fi, 9.15 a.m. LONDON, May 5. Mr Winston Churchill (UnderSecretary for the Colonies) and Cap--1 tain Guest, a younger son of Lord 5 Wimbourne, representing the Colon- . ial Office, accompanied Sir Joseph i Ward, Sir Robert Bond, Mr 'Moor, , and General Botha, io . Manchester, where the Premiers wjre presented I ' f he Freedom of Uif City. I V "monv was followed by a h ® ""'.-clies, in'which the ; luniJheon inM? 'ha necessity of jspeakers Lancashire ■'developing traH*' ImjUv and th£-colonies. Sir Joseph' WA'ii marie an' GUftiest appeal for 1 reciprocity, warning , hearers not to negiVH: German con?" petition.

WONDERFULLY ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. Received May G, 9.38 pi.no. LONDON, May 6. . The reception at Manchester was wonderfully enthusiastic. The Mayor, in presenting the Premiers with the Freedom of the City, stated that two million people from a radius of ten miles watched the proceedings. They took the deepest sympathy and interest in the 1 ceremony, not only as a personal tribute, but also as a proof of affectionate brotherly feeling towards the oversea communities. Sir J. G. Ward, on behalf of the Premiers, acknowledged the extraordinary demonstrative welcome which the colonists warmly reciprocated. Scarcely a family in the United Kingdom was witheut relations in the great colonies. The recipients did not regard the presentation of 11 io Freedom of the City as an empty for u, but as an emblem of the affectionate regard the worldfamed city felt for the oversea communities. Such events increased the colonist's pride that they were living under a glorious flag representing strength, power and freedom. The Mayor proposed the toast of the guests at the luncheon. Sir J. G. Ward, in responding, said he regretted that time did not permit of a visit to the canal which brought Manchester in direct contact with the shipping and commerce of the world. New Zealand was able to testify to the advantages of direct trade with the famous centre of commerce. The late Mr k. J. Seddon,his distinguished predecessor, had worked iiicessantly to ensure direct communication, and nobody had done more to strengthen the ties of the Empire than the late Premier. It was vitally necessary that -both the Motherland and the colonies should develop trade. Nothing ought to be left undone to secure closer trade union. While it was possible to admire Germany's energetic efforts to acquire trade abroad, yet if the British flag was to ; remain on the ascendent as carriers it would be unwise to ignore the endeavors of continental rivals to usurp British trade. Britiqji merchants ought to support British shipping everywhere, thereby placing the trade on a sounder basis. He emphasized the universal kindness shown to the Premiers by all parties. Though preference had not succeeded at the Conference the Premiers fully recognised Britain's right to control her own fiscal policy, just as the colonies exercised a similar right in their territories. He denied that the Premiers had experienced any rudeness at the Conference.