THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8444, 17 May 1907, Page 5

THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

Eeceiwed May 1.6,, 3Q,3jP-m. LONDON, May 16. A crowded meeting of city men, held in the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange, gave Dr. Jameson and Mr A. Deakin ;a'.tremendous reception. Dr. Jameson said that :he was disappointed thai .the Conference had not made a decisive stejp forward in the direction of the consolidation of the Empire. Whatever ihad been achieved was mainly due to Mr Dealrin'fl ..energy, pluck, <and eloquence. The substitution of the word "Imperial" insteadidf Colonial Conference .meant the emancipation of the conference from the -aegis- of the Colorilial Office, and imeant that future conferences would .he .as between the .Governments. jHe regretted that effective machinery for the consolidation of the Empire had »ot been .obtained owing to the Secretariat, after the hardest .fight at the Conference, 'remaining a department of .the Colonial Office. He was convinced that the present arrangements -would prove such a failure that the Premiers would obtain efficient machinery at theinext Conference. Dr. Jameson argued that sentimental and material links weite required to .cement the Empire, ;and complained that >±he Government had not attempted to answer the Premiers* case for (preference. They had knocked .down "bogeys'" <of their own erection. He believed the Government was afraid to make even a little experiment in the direction of reciprocal trade because it would prove a success. Mr Deakin emphatically denied that the Premiers an the slightest degree had attempted to embarrass the Government from ;party political! motives. No reciprocity was pos- ; sible unless preference was mutual. Australia was prepared to build her half of the bridge to the centre arch where they must await the Motherland's approach before the keystone was dropped which completes the .structure. Concluding, Mr Deakin said: "The colonies believe in you, even if you ( have ceased to believe in yoiarselves. We believe that within this nation lies a force capable ot rousing you to greater and more lofty heights than ever, enabling you to retain the proud position in which your forefathers placed you." (Prolonged cheers). The audience then joined in singing, "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows."