ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 162, 9 July 1907, Page 10

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(From Oar Special Correspendent.)

LONDON, May 31

Whose guests were the Colonial Premiers ? Mr Arthur Lee, the Unionist member for Fareham, inclines to the view that they were the honoured visitors of the nation; Mr Winston Churchill, relying on a phrase used by Mr Chamberlain some years ago, pronounces them to have been — technically and officially — the guests of the Government. A smart pas-sage-at-arms occurred in"the House on Wednesday over this unimportant detail. Mr Churchill informed Mr Lee that a provision of £6000 was made in the estimates of 1907-S for expenses in connection with the Colonial Conference. He believed that this vote, which included ail the expenses incurred, would be somewhat exceeded.

Mr Lee: Are' we to understand that the whole cost of the official entertainment of the Colonial Ministers will be charged on the Estimates, and if that is so, have not the Colonial Ministers been the guests not of the Government, but of the whole nation?

Mr Churchill: The whole cost of the official entertainment will be charged upon the estimates. The Colonial Ministers have always hitherto been entertained at the expense of the nation, and I observe that Mr Chamberlain, in sending them an invitation on January 25.. 1897, specially invited them to be "the guests of Her Majesty's Government. That invitation was repeated on a subsequent occasion, and in both cases the Ministers have been the guests of the Government. That has been the invariable practice. Mr Lee: May I ask whether the right hon. gentleman considers that the Government in this particular instance are representing the nation? Mr Churchill (with sudden heat, and banging the desptch-box to emphasise his words) : I am very much surprised that a representative of the constitutional party should suggest that the Ministers of the day, holding office under the Crown, have not the right to speak in the name of the nation. (Ministerial cheers.) It is understood that the arrangements for the next Imperial Conference will be on a different footing from the last. As a result of the deliberations that have just come to an end, the Conference will, in future, become part of the recognised machinery of the Empire, instead of a hybrid .mixture of social engagements and irregular ponsultations. The Premiers of the principal colonies are resolved that henceforth there shall be no question of official hospitality, and the speech of the Under-Secretary "for the Colonies did milch to clinch the mutter before their departure. To future Conferences, held at the agreed interval of four years, they will come as representatives of their States, in perfect independence of the patronage of the Imperial Government.. This, they consider, will free their hands to make the best use of their time and abilities in the furtherance of the objects -which they are instructed by their Governments to promote. It will also do away with the idea of any personal obligation to the particular Ministry which may happen to be in power in the years that Conferences will be summoned.

Lord Meath has addressed the following Empire Day message to the boys and girls who owe allegiance to His Majesty:

"Boys and girls of the British Empire. 'Mary you realise more and more fully as you grow older your great indebtedness to the British Empire, a majestic community of free nations freely governing themselves, owing its being to vast sacrifice, enterprise, and valour on the part •of your fathers and predecessors, bound together by one King, one flag, and one Navy, comprising more than a fifth part of the human race, and occupj'ing more than a -fifth part of the earth's surface — a federation the like of which the world has never known before. May you bear in mind'that of the allied peoples of this Empire each one looks to the others for practical sympathy, protection, and cooperation, and that not only the State to ■ ■which you belong, but also the Empire itself, looks to you to be ready in time of need to think, to labour, and to bear hardships in its behalf. May you excel in the practice of faith, courage, duty, self-discipline, fair 'dealing, even justice, good citizenship, loyalty, patriotism, and sympathy, and thus, by your own indijvidual action, aid in elevating the British character, strengthening the British Emgire, and consolidating the British race."

Striking evidence of the interest felt in the recent Imperial Conference, and more especially in the issue of Imperial preference, is afforded by the number of resolutions sent to each of the Colonial prime Ministers by meetings held in different parts of the country. No fewer than 766 resolutions from meetings of every size and character, ranging from the grea,t Albert Hall demonstration on April 25 down to small village meetings, ■were sent in during the session of the Conference. Of these, 259, or roughly, one-third, were sent by branches of the Tariff Reform League or Tariff Reform 'Associations, the rest from meetings of a more general character, including 3S from workingsmen's clubs, and 45 from women's associations and clubs.