THE CREWE POLICY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 238, 1 July 1908, Page 7

THE CREWE POLICY.

SYMPATHY, OPTIMISM.

WHITE AUSTRALIA NOT UNDERSTOOD. LORD DUDLEY'S TAUT. NEW CONSTITUTIONAL MACHINE. (by telegeaph—press association—copyright.) (Kec. June 30, 9.15 p.m.) London, June 30. A banquet tendered to Lord Dtidley (tho new Governor-General of the Commonwealth) in the Hotel Cecil proved tho largest and most representative Australian gathering hold hero for many years. Tho Earl of Crewe, Secretary for tho Colonies, presided, and in proposing the heaitli of Lord Dudley, warmly eulogised Lord Dudley's administration as Viceroy of Ireland, in which ho showed an unbiased, judgment which would prove valuablo in his now office, •which was one- of the highest positions in King Edward's servico. Lord Crewe paid a tribute to the tact and bountiful hospitality of tho retiring Governor-General, Lord Northcote, who. had been ably seconded, by Lady North cote.

A SELF-DENVINC ORDINANCE. Tho Minister. added that Australian politics Were not always very closoly followed or quito properly understood in the United Kingdom. Australia desired to remain tho home of a white race;, and 'that' desire had been sometimes misunderstood.. It must bo'roraembeted that from the standpoint of more material prosperity Australia's policy was in somo respects a self-denying ordinance,- and he would never allow the motives of. Australian statesmen ' and of the Australiaii people to be Misinterpreted if he could help. it v >- V

Australia had undertaken perhaps the hardest part of all the white man's burden—that of administering a territory peopled largely by a native race In that task ho wished her every possible prosperity. The Colonial Office did not under-rate the difficulty of .such' tasks, nor was L'ord Dudley's coming task devoid of difficulty.. ' FRICTION IS NATURAL. • "The Australian Constitution," Lord Crewo wont on to say, " is a great monumont to one of the most eminent of my predecessors, and to the energy of Australian statesmen. Now,' Lord Dudley, as a motorist, is' awaro that a new machine is apt to havo a grinding of surfaces and an over-heating of hearings before it has run a certain distance; those who' see difficulties' existing, in tho working of tlio Australian Constitution may, I think, take heart. ; . " Similar difficulties were associated with tho early years' of . the American Constitution. 'Ero.long any existing difficulties of the Commonwealth, if not forgotten, will bo positively rejoiced: in—'Forsan et liaec olirn meminisso jjuyabit.'* ' V A PROOF OF QUALITY. ) "People in the Commonwealth would say: 'If wo had not been so'.virile a race,'; if our statesmen had been less urgent and energetic, we would have settled down hioro easily, than wo did to .- the working of 'this Constitution. Any little/rubs and difficulties are merely testimony to our qualities, just as.'a high-coursged horse in harness feels a rub of the collar which would pass unnoticed by his humble relative drawing a watermongcr's cart.' ■

■: "But 1 if' Lord Dudley finds aiiy little symptoms 'of friction, I- am certain his v tact ..and . personal judgment /will, contribute to its alleviation. Ho'''goes' among now faces, not other minds— ' coelum non animuni mutant qiii' trans mare currunt.'t Ho , will find-' in Australia that tho purest local patriotism is of assistance -to tho *yder patriotism of the Empire; and that wider patriotism: he will fiild , there -in abundance."

LORD DUDLEY COMES WITH AN OPEN' \ . MIND. . Lord Dudley,, who - was v given- -a great ovation, said that. nobody recognised - .more clearly than he the responsibilities' of hisnow office or how easy it was to 'make mistakes. Therefore' -it was very .encouraging ! .to-take up. his: duties with the goodwill of' thoso among whom he was going • to dwell.' He was anxious to do so unfettered by-pre-,-, eoncoived notions or prematuro utterances. Lord Dudloy added:— I re'cognisoclearly that I . am not tli'o exponent of a, particular policy," but tho representative of a Constitutional'sovereign" in a Constitution largely founded on ours; therefore'.l must bear in mind'tlio importance of reticenco and; caution. Questions are, apt to ariso; in r which tlio, standpoint of tho colouies differsifrom the Motherland's, but thero needsbe.no misgivings if such quc-s-. tions aro treated in a broad', and;/sensible way, and if j there continues to exist in. tlio colonics and in-'tho Motherland a constant recognition of tlie necessity of mutual concession. - \ . ' COHESION WITH ELASTICITY. .'"Tho Empire must'be a great c'o-partnor-ship, each partner living his life arid rearing his 'family uiidor conditions widely different. Hence, while cohesion is vital; elasticity is essential."' Lord Dudloy./described; Lord Crowo as a wise, cautious, .fearless, and broadminded jadviser. Ho hoped; that with tho help, of' Lord Crewo and of,\distinguished advisers who would surround-him in Australia, ho would be successful in discharging his duties. ■' , / ' - *Forsim et. haee olini meminisse juvabit (Virgil).—Maybe one day there will' bo , a pleasure in -remembering even theso , tilings. t Coelum non nnimum mutnnt qui trans mnro currant (Horace).—They change "' their sky but not their hearts who cross the. sea. The Federation).of Australia was consummated during '.thij iime that Lord CreWo's "distinguished predecessor," Mr. Chamberlain, presided at tho Colonial Office. • i Tho Earl of Dudley, a Conservative, was' Ticcroy of Ireland under the last Unionist Government, from; 1002 to 1905. He was nriicli criticised by ;roaoy linionists for his encou.agemont of devolution. •