EMPIRE CONFERENCE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10268, 21 June 1911, Page 5

EMPIRE CONFERENCE

CABLE NEWS

United Press Association —By Electrn Telegraph—Copyright.

DOMINIONS AND SHIPPING.

SIR J. G. WARD'S MOTION CARRIED.

(Received Last Night. 9.35 o'clock.)

LONDON, June 20

The Right Han. L. Harconrt presided at to-day's meeting of the Imperial Conference. The motion by Sir Joseph "Ward, "That the Dominions should be entrusted with wider powers in respect to British and foreign shipping," was carried. THE LASCAR QUESTION. (Received Last Night, 10.10 o'clock.) LONDON, June 20. Earl Crewe said he desired, before Sir Joseph Ward submitted his resolution, to refer to a question which affected India. He had come to the conclusion that the Conference could not discuss any question more difficult or critical than the treatment of the native race within the Dominions. He had previously expressed his opinion that the differences between the whites and natives seemed to threaten, not only the well being, but the actual existence of the Empire. In one sense the question was insoluble. The Government recognised the absolute impassibility of a free interchange between all subjects of the crown. Nobody would dispute the Dominions right to select whom they should admit to citizenship. He also recognised that it was easy for Great Britain to underrate the difficulties confronting the Dominions, because she was not troubled with similar problems. The Dominions had two separate but closely interwoven objections. A large influx of native population was the first. An influx might mean the rivalry of cheap labour. Secondly, there was the "colour" bar. Indians, by pride of desent and their personal qualities, claimed consideration. Ho submitted that while the •problem, would not .T>c- solved by, heroic legislation, the r'ela.tions might materially -be improved by the cultivation of a mutual understanding between thVlndian Office and the Government. India would always do her utmost to explain to Indinns their position in the Dominions.' ' They were entitled, on the other hand, to ask the Dominions to make known iu their own arens the widespread feeling of India about the treatment of their people, a fact which those objectng to the British in India, did not seldom use to damage the Government. He suggested the possibility of tho Dominions acting, within the restrictions imposed, to make the admission of Indians easier and pleasanter than now. They would thus do much to improve the relations with India. Otherwise, we would Im? far from being an united Empire. If the Dominions displayed a friendly spirit, the best public opinion in India wouM recognise it, and do its best peacefully to solve the difficulties arising.

SIR JOSEPH EXPLAINS., Sir Joseph Ward, in moving the resolution, said New Zealand, entertained a loyal friendliness towards Indjia. The resolution was directed . against the low-Daid coloured race competing with British-manned ships in New Zealand. Earl Crewe had admitted the undeniable right of the Dominions in regard to citizenship, but if the present conditions continued there were two alternatives —New Zealand shipping must transfer its registration to places where it was not subject to law. and which prevented the employment of Lascars at low wages, or the repeal of the whole laws passed in the interest of white crews. Either proposition was unthinkable. Personally, he believed New Zealanders felt they ought to urge upon all nations a policy of every colour going back to its own zone. , OTHER SPEAKERS. > Di\ Findlay said the question was not only racial, but economic. Sir Wilfrid Laurier supported the motion. He declared that he was not anxious to impair the spirit of loyalty of the, native populations so as to maJveVii difficult-for Britain to maintain good relations; but the fact remained that the moment Asiatic 'labour competed with whites they disturbed the existing conditions and seriously jeopardised the Empire. It was not colour-prejudice, but the fact that-the Asiatics had a different civilisation and living standard.

Mr Batchelor declared that the Australian view was similar to that of New Zealand's. There had been much agitation'-in the past through the misunderstanding of the Dominions' position. They wore anxious to remove the anomalous restriction, but must consider local necessities. Mr Pearce said that all that their shipping . laws aimed at x was ;to prevent a foreigner having an;advantage over their own shipping, in their own .waters! ...•,■'": :•-•■■ ■.,.-.

Mr Mala iv stated that the - jahour aspect troubled Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, hut self-preserva-tion, arid not'labour, was tlie question in .South- Africa, where *an- .overwhelming African population made it impossible to allow the introduction of another coloured race. The problem so far as the employment of Lascars was concerned, was chiefly the labour difficulty; but from an Indian standpoint the difficulty was not diminished.

Sir Joseph Ward said the difficulty was not racial but economic. The Indians had an undoubted right to deal