CONSTITUTIONAL CLUB.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10267, 20 June 1911, Page 3

CONSTITUTIONAL CLUB.

j ENTERTAINS OVERSEAS PREMj lERS. United Press Association—liy Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received June 19, 8.5 a.m.) . LONDON, June 10. Mr Balfour, presiding at a luncheon at tho Constitutional Club in honour of the oversea Premiers, said he rejoiced that the latter should honour the Club. Tho Premiers themselves were party politicians, and they knew that the party system was essential to the working of free institutions and representative government. Therefore, they must all be aware that the party system was not inconsistent with national unity. They welcomed the Premiers, Mr Balfour continued, as a party gathering that was held in no party spirit. But, recognising that their business here could be conducted through the Government of the Country for the time being, they also recognised that their visit concerned the development of the greatest experiment ever made in the government of man. Tho time might come, Mr Balfour said, when the great and growing Do- ; minions would feel that it was preferable to go their own way, like the adults of a family. That might happen. The world wise would say that it was a probable event. Yet lie thought there was a higher and better way. He dreamed other dreams for the future.

He thought that, as they more thoroughly realised in every community of the Empire that each was to manage its own affairs, carry out its own life, and make its own experiments as a political atom, it wa,s- upon that solid hasis that they might build up something the world had never yet seen —the coalition of free, self-gov-erning communities, conscious that they were never more masters of their own fate than when recognising that they were parts of a great whole. He saw beginnings to-day whereof posterity would see fruitions. Such conferences as those now proceeding, said Mr Balfour, must help towards the realisation of his ideal, and of the great cause for which the visitors were labouring. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, responding, said that the Canadians had boisted the policy of British preference to the i topmast, there t-o stay. Reciprocity with the United States did not involve 1 the slightest danger to the Motherland's interests. Whatever privileges , were granted to others would be given equally to Britain. THE WALDORF GATHERING. (Received June 19, 9.40 a.m. LONDON, June 18, Fifty Oversea Parliamentarians, < with their wives and daughters, are staying at the Waldorf Hotel as guests ' of the British Parliamentarians. SPEECH BY MR FISHER. (Received June 19, 8.10 a.m.) LONDON, June 18. The British Empire League and Science Guild banqueted the Oversea visitors at the Savoy Hotel. The Duke of Devonshire presided. , Amongst those present was Dr. Warren, President of Magdalen College, Oxford. He referred to Mr Fisher's refusal to accept the Oxford LL.D. degree, and said he thought the sentiment of Burns was right. Yet the guinea stamp was not to 1)0 des- , pised. j Mr Fisher replied that it was not on the grounds of false modesty, but because of his youth and other dis- i .abilities that he had asked to be excused from accepting the honour. ' The Conference, Mr Fisher added, had already been fruitful of good results. The British Government had invited the delegates to its very fireside, and had asked them to come ( right inside to learn what they intended doing for the protection of all parts of the Empire. The Australian Government, Mr Fisher added, would give the establishment of a solar observatory cordial and favourable consideration.

JOURNALISTS BANQUETTED. v (Received June 19, 9 a.m.) ' , LONDON, June ]B. The Empire Press Union banq'uetted th i Oversea journalists, who are vis't- j inL r London. : Lord Buriiham presided. Lord Curzon, in proposing the toast "Our Guests," said he believed the Imperial idea was progressing, and that the scattered units were drawing closer together. He had no reason to fear in expressing his confidence in the Empire's future, and they would not ultimately reach their expectations. Sir Joseph Ward, who had put forward with intrepid brevity, proposals which were not accepted, had informed him that the Confer-iicc marked a great advance. Mr Geoffrey Fairfax, of the Sy.l'ic >' Morning Herald, responded." A WORLD-WIDE NAVY. (Received June 19, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, June 18. Sir Joseph Ward, at a meeting of the British and Colonial technical 1 students-at the Festival of Empire, congratulated the organisation iip > V having 160,000 students throughout; the world. He said ho would follow the example of the Australian PostmascerGeneral, and urge the officials of me Department in New Zealand to ioi.i the organisation. The Imperial Conference, Sir Joseph Ward said, would be glad co receive the assistance of any movement similar to this one in assisting the dissemination of Imperial ideas. While probably not agreeing with all the details of proposals he had made, Sir Joseph said he hoped the loaders of the organisation would impress on their correspondent the allimportant consideration, in view of developments in other countries, that Britain should have a world wide navy for tho protection of various parts of the Empire.