SIR JOSEPH WARD

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 1039, 21 August 1911, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD

CABLE NEWS

United Press Association — By Electric Telegraph—Copyright*

INTERVIEWED AT KOBART. HE EXPLAINS THE POSITION. (Received Last Night, 5 o'clock.) HOBART, August 20. Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., Prime Minister of New Zealand, who arrived by the Ruapehu, stated in an interview that the recent Imperial Conference completed the tenth Conference he had attended. He agreed with the Right Hon. H. H. Asquith that tho results of the last Conference, both, in quality and general benefit to the Empire, were of a most solid and enduring kind —first as regards matters touching the internal relations of tho Empire, and second, as regards matters -touching international relations. Chief among the former, said Sir Joseph, was the undertaking of the Imperial authorities that hereafter no international agreement will be entered into which affects the Oversea Dominions without a. conference or, consultation with the Dominions af- v fected. This will obviate a good de:tl of the heart burning of the past, occasioned by the Imperial Government completing an agreement vitally affecting the Overseas Dominions without reference to ■tno'-e Dominions. The prevailing practice on the part of the Home Government is to strictly limit a.ll its international'treaties to the United Kingdom, unless the Overseas Dominions desire inclusion, and this undertaking on the part of the

»Briti(sh Government to obtain the release from existing commercial treaties of any Dominions desiring freedom, is a concession to the autonomy of all self-governing countries of the Empire. During the discussion on the proposed creation of a final ImDorial Court of Appeal, Mr Asquith admitted that the Dominions had well-foun-ded reasons for complaint. The Imperial Government has now undertaken, at the instance of resolutions submitted by S:.r Joseph, to alter the constitution and procedure of the existing Court of Appeal for the Oversea Empire to two divisions. One--' L will hear appeals; from the United; 1 f Kingdom, and the other from the k . Oversea Dominions.

The Privy Council is to be strengthened by the addition of two o£ the ablest English Judges, and the procedure is to oe assimilated to that of the House of Lords.

Another long stride towards Imperial unity- was the agreement arrived at unanimously in nespeot to Imperial naturalisations. In the past the most striking anomalies have existed. Those' naturalised in New Zealand, or in Canada, for instance, while British subjects within th&se Dominions, were aliens with any otl> er part of the Empire. The utmost diversity prevails between the two Dominions.' !

Passing to -what was admittedly the most important subject brought before the Conference, his motion in favour of a representative Imperial Council, Sir Joseph Ward said iit was significant of the extent to which tlie people of the United Kingdom desired closer Imperial nnity that over three hundred members ,of the House of Commons, representative not of on© party, but of all parties, memorialised Mr Asquith to promote the closer association .of the Oversea Dom-' inions with Imperial interests, particularly those of defence, and to do this Iby moans of a Council really representative of all parts of the Empire. This memorial was. consequent' upon the resolution tabled, by. Sir Joseph for discussion <vt the Conference, and he said ho was entitled to quote this as an answer to those who suggested that the introduction of the subject was. somewhat gratuitous, and without the widespread and fervent support of thef people of the iMotherland.

"In submitting tire motion," said Sir Joseph, "1 never contemplated the possibility of its being, agreed to as an organised system. It only sought the affirmationi of a principle, and as a matter of fact the principle underlying the motion "was affirmed. Mr Asquith declared, on the part of the British Government, that it was in fullest sympathy with any practical means for bringing the-Oversea Dominions into closer union with the Motherland, and this sentiment was. repeated iby various oversea representatives, notably General Botha. The subsequent discusisions upon Imperial Defence, which, owing to the necessity for .secrecy, I cannot disclose, satisfy .me beyond doubt that an effective Imperial co-operation for the defence of the Empire cannot be secured without the adoption in some shape of the principle of Imperial unity I advocated. It is generally recognised that, while there may be several navies witihin the Empire, there cannot, for the purposes of Imperial defence, be more ithan one Imperial naval defence policy. Recognising that the best results of one policy is on© great Empire navy, I have always advocated, as a. New .Zealand contribution (to the 'Navy, a money grant, on condition that the ocean highways shoiild ibe fully .safeguarded a® well as the shores of the different Dominions."

"The decision of the Imperial Conference to appoint an Empire commission, with representatives, on. it from the Motherland and ovei\sea Dominions, is," said Sir Joseph, "a very valuable and important one. Saich a commission, if the men of wide experience and knowledge are appointed, imust ibe> able to obtain evidence that will enable all concerned to improve the trade relationship existing throughout the Empire. Necessarily such a commission cannot interfere with the fiscal policy of a portion of the Empire; but .with 'ever-increas-ing efforts to secure trade by competing with foreign countries, it is. allimportant that nothing .should be left undone by the respective British countries tto improve the conditions of the vast and increasing trade between themselves l ." "Summed up, all must," said Sir Joseph, "agree with Mr Asquith that the results of the recent conference have' been verysolid and: practical, and that none of these could have been attained' rapidly or effectively except by means of the discussion which took place and the decisions arrived at by the Conference in London. Sir Joseph Ward's attention wasi drawn to the endeavours of Mr Andrew Fisher, while in London, to have the British opsseseions. in' the Pacific placed under Australian control. iSir Joseph said he would make no statement on this question 1 , pre-

ferring to preserve a neutral attitude. When twenty days out from Marseilles, he received a wireless message as to the rumour of handing over Tahiti, to Germany in connection' with the Moroccan trouble, and he wired ■Mr Haroourt, emphatically protesting and contending that it would be against the best interests of the Br.i-, tish 'community in the Pacific. He was glad to hear that it was not true.