DOMINION DAY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8511, 16 August 1907, Page 3

DOMINION DAY.

SIR W. LAURIER APPEALS FOR AN "ALL RED LINE."

(From Our London Correspondent.) LONDON, July 2. The annual Dominion Day dinner took place, last night, at the Hotel Cecil. After the loyal toasts, the chairman proposed "The Dominion of Canada, and his Excellency the Go-vernor-General." Sir Wilfred Laurier, in acknowledging the toast, expressed the hope that the next step they would adapt

themselves to would be an "All Red"

line between Canada, England and Australia. That was truly an Imperial scheme. For that scheme the people of Canada were ready, and he was sure the people of Australia and New Zealand were ready too. It was not for him to dictate what should be the policy of the British people. Five years ago the British Parliament undertook a heavy financial responsibility in assisting; a line of steamers between Liverpool and New York. He said, without hesitation, that if he were an Englishman he would approve any policy which would make closer the bonds between England and the United States. But could not what had been done for foreigners be done for a British people? He had nothing but admiration for the American people, for they were our kith and kin, but they did not fly the British flag. If Englishmen put their hands in their pockets to assist a line of steamers between their country and one which did not fly the British flag, would they hesitate to incur twice the amount to assist a fleet of vessels running to a portion of their own Empire? The place which came nearest to his heart was Canada, covered by the British flag. (Cheers.) Among the guests were Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, High Commissioner of Canada, the Duke of Argyll, Lord Tweedmouth, the Right Hon. Augustine Birrell, M.P., the Earl of Lichfield, Lord Wenlock, the Lord Mayor of London, the Archdeacon of London, and a number of notable soldiers, sailors, politicians and civic dignitaries. After the dinner Lord and Lady Strathcona gave an "At Home" at the Imperial Institute, . South Kensington, which was very largely attended.