COLONIAL OFFICE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 426, 8 February 1909, Page 5

COLONIAL OFFICE.

VISIT TO AUSTRALASIA.

;; BY SIR C. 1 LUCAS. \ THE 'DUTY OF THE EMPIRE, (bt TnLEanirri—punsß association—corxciaut.) ... .(Reo.;. February. 7, 4,30 p.m.) . ; London, \February 6; : Lord Crewe (Secretary of. State for. the Colonies) has instructed Sir Chas. Prestwood Lucas-.(Assistant: Under-Secretary. 'of ; the Colonial: Office- and:head of : the Dominion's Department since the re-organisation;of that, office) ;to ; make ' a*; prolonged visit ; \ to ' Aus-v tralia.and.Now Zealand. ... '. ..Mr, Arthur.Ashley.Pearson (formerly Principal Clerk in the Colonial-Office, and.representative ,of the Crown; at the British ; Empire Postage Conference in ; 1898) will accompany Sir.C..P. Lucas. "' •'■''■. v '.■•''■ ■''The Times" says' that:the visit is doubtless'a response, to'the suggestion made',, by Mr. Deakin (then Prime Minister; of .the Commonwealth) on the last day of the Imperial Conference, and adds/that' .Sir 0. P. Lucas's quiet Judgment and kindly tact will assure him .a. ready- welcome tin Australasia. "The Times "also recalls the advico given by,the es-Governbr-General of the Commonwealth "(Lord .Northcote) at, the','■ banquet given in his;hpnbur. .. ; .f.-:... .!;,

SUGGESTION BY LORD NORTHCOTE AND ..-■:vV.-;:yvr^:M R v;:D E AK!N,:•■:_ ;-;:; : .. ;, I 'Speaking at: the banquet, given in his honour, ; Lord Northcote said, it; was desirable that more public -men ■ should' visit Australia and: study the'cqlonies.';.He spoke ,6f the 'great advantage that .would accrue to" the Empire: if the Colo-nial-Office; arranged'.for.pin interchange of officials/ allowingisome of' its "staff to take service in/the s;- ; ■'•'- ..•;■■.'■■■ ;.'■•■'■. .;■; ;■•• •■;^:\ ;VMr.' DeaHfi's .suggestion, at the Imperial Con-' f erence ■ was;that the Seoretary. of, State. for tho. Colonies'.should.."frame: aioheme which' will create, opportunities, for 'members': of the '■■ permanent staff'of; the Colonial Office more intimate' knowledge.of' the circumstances and conditions of the colonies with whose busi- . ness they have to deal,' whether : by' appointments, 'temporary, interchanges, or. periodical visits'of officers, or:similar means." : It :is notable that, Mrs- Batchelor,. Minister for External Affairs in'the new Labour Min--istry in Australia, has expressed approval.of Lord ? Northcoto's suggestion for an \ exchange of: officials between CBritain'-'and the Commonwealth. 1 '■" i" ');■:.'.::,:.:. ; /: ■;;"•'.' - -,