IMPERIAL UNITY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10718, 25 September 1912, Page 4

IMPERIAL UNITY

SPEECH BY LOUD ISLINGTON

(By Telegraph— /Yc« Association.)

WELLINGTON, Last. Xight

Two intorestnig speeches were delivered at the Navy League Conference to-day, Mr R. AloLoan. Xapior, presiding. The Governor struck a higl*

Imperial ::-.!.•• for closer union between the different pans of tho Empire, through an Imperial Council. "I wot!ld," hif, E>c;-:' : :icncy .said, "venturo to pay that I hope in the not very distant future that the fie!f-governinj>; Dominions will assume full statutory partnership in the responsibilities and obligations, as well a« in tho privileges and advantages of the Empire. I hope fhe time is very near for the modification of the. existing relations between tho Mother Country and tho Dominions, which would provide for the admission, of the peoples of the Oversea Dominions and possessions lo a common citizenship of nn L Imperial character, with a.n adeo.ua.te measure of representation in an Imperial Council."- The present Imperial Council, he continued, had undergone considerable development., and he hoped th© Council at no distant, date'would take on more of an Imperial- nature, representative of the Dominions in an advisory character.

Mr Allen, Minister of Defence, said' he was quite sure the Governor's'words would be welcomed throughout NewZealand and that there was a possibility of New Zealand being taken somewhat more into the confidence of the Mother Country. New Zealand should shoulder her responsibilities, and a s a. return receive the confidence of the Old Land. If they were 1-> maintain the Empire, they must do a great deal more than they were doing at present, and ono great stimulus to the people of .Southern Pacific would come if the necessity arose of having to face direct hostility to themselves.