THE FUTURE OF THE EMPIRE.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXII, Issue 64, 17 March 1910, Page 5

THE FUTURE OF THE EMPIRE.

AUSTRALIA STANDS FOR. Press Assn—By telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 16. Lord Crewe, speaking at the banquet to Sir George Reid,, said the duties of Agents-General were in no wise entrenched upon by Sir George Reid's ax-rival. He thought the comparison of a High Commissioner and Agents-General and Ambassadors were singularly infelicitous. He preferred to regard them as Imperial statesmen whose duties were partly to look after the parts of the Empire which they represent, but also to be able to give opinions on many Imperial problems without party trammels. He thought it unlikely that the present arrangements whereby the Secretary of State for the Colonies looked after business connected with the overseas dominions and the Crown colonies would be permanent. A aration of the duties was probable within the near future. The idea of the Imperial Council could be best promoted by taking the oversea Dominions into conference, and whenever the interests of the Dominions were" concerned with any diplomatic problem, placing the utmost confidence in the statesmen of the Dominions. • Sir .George Reid, in replying, recalled the rich stream of emigration to the Australian goldfields. "We now saw," he said, "in the rising greatness of Atistralia, in her rapidlyincreasing strength and industry, and the growing volume of her trade, the magnificent dividends which Aiistralia was rendering under British colonisation and enterprise. The Australian system of Government represented perhaps the largest measure of 'trust in the people' and freedom for the community that was to-day visible on the world's face. The task of developing the Commonwealth was Just as much an Imperial task as the settling of Home political difficulties, and it was a task which excited no party difficulties. The Imperial and colonial Governments could unite in using the utmost influence to secure suitable British emigrants for the Empire's' Dominions. Many suggestions had been made for adding to the ties of undoubted affection now existing, and in considering them statesmen had a most anxious task, that of reconciling free play of selfinterest with enlightened regard for the Empire's welfare." Mentioning, amid cheers, Australia's voluntary granting of preference to the Motherland, Sir George Reid remarked that he felt bovrnd to go further and add that Australia had a strong desire to go further and reach reciprocal arrangements—(cheers) —but the desire had never, as far as he could see, got the length of sacrificing its own growing manufactures.

(Reecived March 17, 8.20 a.m.) LONDON, March 16. Sir George Reid, in concluding, said might he say another thing, namely, that an insinuation that Australia's loyalty was mixed with the fiscal question, and depended on the Motherland's answer to these questions of preference and reciprocity, was an unfounded slander. (Cheers.) Until any new departure was based on the conviction that it embodied an advantage strengthening the Motherland and Australia alike, the Australians would scorn it, if it is at the expense of the Motherland.