EMPIRE AFFAIRS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17452, 12 May 1922, Page 7

EMPIRE AFFAIRS.

LORD NORTHCLIFFE'S IMPRESSIONS. VALUE or CHEAP COMMUNICATIONS. (By C*b>—Pru* Ajsoei»tion—Cop\ rifrh!.* (Aurtr*li*n >nd !N.Z. Cable AMociation.) LONDON, May 10. l'ho Empire Press Union gave a luncheon to Lord Xoithcliife nt the Hotel \ ictorin. The American Ambassador, Colonel G. Harvey, and oilier prominent journalists were* present. Lord Northcliffe, responding to tlio toast 01 his health, referred to the adxancenient iu wireless telegraphy. It wo used this weapon wisely, he said, wo might niter the relations ol tho whole world. Iho various parts of the Empire suffered through cable breakdowns, but that would probably be changed betore lonj*. for improvement-, and advancements were likely duniv:; tho next lew months, and would have a great influence. The danger of ignorance within the Empire was largely caused by high shipping freight*, high passenger rates, and, more especially, by high cable rales. These things could not bo over-rated. The English people were not watching Canada closely enough. He alluded to the shir of the cattle embargo, for which there was no justification. Lord Northcliffe said:—"When I was in Australia, where I tpoko plainlv of tho fact that X never could see auv people there, 1 was naturally attacked by the Labour organisations, who do not want people. I was warmly thanked by many thoughtful, travelled Australians. The Australians are not an intolerant people, I made upeochos in tho hot-beds of Labour, nnd tho consequences predicted of such action did not occur. "\Vc somewhat misunderstand tho Dominions' relations with the Motherland. Whorerer I went in Australia, the first thought was loyalty to tho Crown. Tho peoplo referred to tho English politicians with flippancy, and the Australian politicians with ridicule, but they were til ways devoted to tho Crown." Ho considered tho Now Zealandcrs tho .most English peoplo in tho world.