EMPIRE CONSOLIDATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 106, 5 May 1923, Page 12

EMPIRE CONSOLIDATION.

STRATHSPEY INTERVENES. QUESTION IX THK HOUST". OF LORDS. (By our Special Correspondent.) LONDON", March 21. Lord Strathspey, who is of course a New Zealander by birth and education, yesterday put a question in the House of Lords asking the Government to take immediate steps to consult. I lie Dominions with the object, of bringing forward definite proposals for the consolidation of the Empire. He said he spoke on behalf of the Dominions. The British Empire was unrivalle<l in its opportunities of trade and commerce, but successive British Governments had not taken advantage of those opportunities. The reason was that they did not sufficiently trust the Colonies. If it were properly managed the Kmpirc could stand alone. Under the present system the Dominions were simply told that a war had taken place, and were then expected to contribute a blood tax. Ife urged that trade within the Kmpire should he fostered, and suggested that the High Commissioners in London should occupy seats in the House of Lords under official titles, such as Lord Capetown. If matters continue as at present, it was a very open question whether, in two generations, there would he any Europe left at all. The Dominions should be represented both in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. What the clans were to Scotland the Dominions were to this country: but if Kngland mixed herself up with negroes, dagos, and the rill'-raif of the world rather than with her clans, then the clans would look elsewhere. The historian of the future might point to his resolution as the Inst warning that might have saved the Kmpire. The Duke of Devonshire, Colonial Secretary, said he had had greater opportunities than the noble lord of seeing the efforts that were being made from hour to hour and day to day. not only in the Old Country, hut throughout the Kmpire, to cement still further the bonds that bound all parts of the Kmpire so closely together. The noble lord might be interested to remember, when he referred to the impossibility of anyone from the Dominion , * takini an active part in our national life, that the Prime Minister to-day was Canadian born. In tin- present Parliament there was a stronger representation almost than in any preeceding Parliament of those who had had tlie privilege of taking part in the affairs of the great Dominions overseas. The Government intended to keep uppermost in their minds the considerations the noble lord had urged. One of the first acts of the present Government was to announce that, at the earliest possible date they proposed to invite representatives.from the Dominions- to attend, not merely a Conference of Prime Ministers, but an Economic Conference as well. Tte hoped that in the pouvro of ii very few days' a public announcement wouid he made as to the date on which these Conferences would meet. The Government were considering very far-reiiehiiifj proposals, by which trade conditions in this country would be materially improved, and which, at the same time, would lead to very great developments of the great natural resources of the Empire.

The noble lord suggested various constitutional reforms which were certainly novel, but before taking any such steps the Government would like to have the views of the Dominions themselves. With regard to the breaking up ot H.M.s. New Zealand, lie said that any sums which might be realised would be placed at the disposal of the New Zealand Government. They were in process of handing over to that Government various mementoes of the ship, which. lie hoped, would perpetuate the gallant part she played in the war. Within a relatively few months they would have the opportunity of welcoming to these shores the representatives of the Dominions, and he was confident that that conference would have beneficial effects, not only to us, but to the Empire, and would, he felt sure, go a long way to relieve the noble lord of the evil prognostications he had expressed.

The subject then dropped.