LINKING UP THE EMPIRE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9123, 24 June 1908, Page 5

LINKING UP THE EMPIRE.

THE ALL RED ROUTE. IRELAND'S CLAIMS. Received June 23, 10.25 p.m. LONDON, June 23. Replying to an Irish deputation favouring Blacksod Bay S3 the port of depai-ture in connection with the proposed All-Red roule' to Halifax, Mr Winston Churchill,. President of the Board of 'iradc, admitted that the Irish route had much that was attractive, but he referred to the necessity of constructing one hundred miles of new railway, besides improving the old lines to permit of a speed'of fifty miles per hour. The Government had not departed from their general attitude at the Colonial Conference, and he admitted that the All Red rout j could not wholly be defended ou commercial grounds. It was a matter of high State policy, in whith se.:ti:ns::t was a factor not less important than commercial considerations. The claims of Ireland from the point sentiment were great indeed. Ireland would be the last link in the chain of free communities joined by lines or rapid, modern transit to the heart of the Empira.