A SUNNY FUTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume 304, Issue 304, 23 December 1926, Page 7

A SUNNY FUTURE.

MR. BRUCE'S EMPIRE WISH. MOTHERLAND'S HOSPITALITY. TRIBUTES FROM BRITISH PRESS. (By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright.! (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 22. Mr. and Mrß. Bruce arrived at Waterloo Station ten minutes before the departure of the boat train. They spent the time chatting gaily with numerous friends and officials, including Colonel De Stage, representing the Prime Minister, and Mr. L. S. Amery. In an interview Mr. Bruce said he was taking back to Australia the happiest possible recollections of his visit. He had one tinge of regret at leaving before the Christmas festival, as he would have liked to remain for a real, old-fashioned, snowy Christmas, which appears likely. "Now that I am returning to my sunshiny country I think the best Christmas wish would be: 'A sunny future for the Empire.' I feel confident it will come, for I am filled with optimism as t look back on what was accomplished at the Conference. The outcome of that momentous yet happy gathering is the new spirit of co-operation. It has dispelled all doubts and suspicions existing in some peoples' minds as to the opening of a new era for the British Empire, in which the great self-governing Dominions, while continuing to work out their own great individual problems, will cooperate in a spirit of unity for the further progress of the Empire as a whole. "I wholeheartedly appreciate the kindness, courtesy ' and hospitality shown not only by the heads of the country bat by the people of Britain." The "Morning Post," in a leader entitled: "Imperial Statesmanship," says: "Mr. Bruce carries with him to Australia the respect and esteem of the people of Britain, who know a good man when they see him. He is gifted with insight and imagination, regarding domestic affairs as part of the larger whole, and he has sincerity and the courage to subordinate partisan issues to the greater common end. "It is the conviction of Mr. Bruce that the prosperity of the Empire depends upon the development of trade and commerce between the nations of the Empire, but thiß development does 'not involve a diminution in foreign trade. It will be long before mid-Euro-pean countries venture to lower their protective tariffs, and in the meanwhile the Empire provides a market of illimitiable possibilities." The* "Daily Mail," under the heading: "A Great Australian," describes Mr. , Bruce as undoubtedly one of the leading figures of the Empire. His speeches at the Imperial Conference showed statesmanship of a high order, his judgment is balanced and his vision clear.