THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 40, 15 February 1894, Page 5

THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT,

London, February 14. Ik the course of a lecture at the Colonial Institue on the British Empire, General Cbesaey advocated the formation of a Council of the Empire consisting of the Prime Minister and some members of the Imperial Cabinet, the Premiers of the great colonial dominions, together with tome of. their colleague*, to tloal with Imperial and colonial affairs, thus securing a harmonious policy and superseding the colonial offiice.

Mr Reid, of Victoria, who referred to General Cheeney's remarks, declared that tbe safeguard of the Empire lay in kindred interest,- sympathy, and blood relation. -The colonies, he said, were convinced, that their interests and those of England were similar, and that it would be impossible for them to exist without England. The task of safeguarding the Empire in future was stupendous, aa the old legislative machinery of England was unsuited to. the new-countries. .The duties of England and the colonies he thought were to .bind together and divert the necessity to the command of the (teas.

Several speaker s'eulogised the Australian auxiliary squadron.

The Colonial Acts Confirmation Bill, chiefly Validating the New South Wales Redistribution of Seats Bill, which the Crown Law Officers advised ought to have been reserved for Royal approval, has passed the House of Lords. Lord Knutsford suggested that tho time had arrived to abolish the power of reservation in the case of small alterations in the constitution of the Colonies*