PRESSMEN AT HOME.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 539, 21 June 1909, Page 7

PRESSMEN AT HOME.

COLONIES AND NAYY. 'CANADA AND AUSTRALIA COMPARED. J ' EMPIRE PATRIOTISM. (By Telegraph.—Proaa Association.—Copyright.) (Roc. Juno 20, 5 p.m.) London, Juno 19. A banquet in connection with the Mancheater Ship Canal was attended by a large company, including tho Lord Mayor, a largo number of leading business mon, and several delegates to the Imperial Press Conference. Mr. Ashworth, President of the Chamber of Commerce, deprecated tho beating of the Imperial drum. Ho declared that the dire foreboding of a rupture between tho Motherland and her dependencies had little countenance in commorcial circles in Manchester. Mr. F. W. Ward (Sydney) said that no •serious diminution of Australia's trado was likely in tho near future, whatever Britain's fiscal policy might bo. Australia, being a gold-producer, could not bo paid in gold for her wool and dairy produce. Eighty, per cent, of Australians were native-born, and they would nover soo England unless Borne extraordinary revolution in methods of transit was brought about. The problem of tho Australian press was how to make the native population understand Britain., The delegates upon their return would strive to shape their papers with a view,to doing this effectually. In tho event of Britain losing the command of tho Atlantic, Canada would be ablo to secure safety by lifting her finger to the United States and becoming merged therein; but Australia might fall into tho hands of a Power that would forco her people to learn a new language and adopt other social habits. Hence tho maintenance of an,open ocean route was a' matter of lifo or death to: Australia. In time tho United Kingdom's Navy would become tho United Empire Navy. One of tho most distressful aspects of English life was the living conditions of some women and children in English cities. Such deplorable sights were impossiblo in Australia: Could not England join the colonies in bettering tho lot of the poor ? ' ' Mr. W. S. Douglas (Auckland):'said the press delegates would return with a deeper conception of the greatness of the Motherland, and a warmer affection for her and her people. ' '!''.' Mr. T. Timporley (Bathurst, New South Wales) declared that on tho question of the Empire there was not a jarring note among tho colonial press representatives. All agreed that tho colonies must stand together with tho Motherland in the common defence of ,the Empire when the hour of trouble arrived.

, HONORARY LL.D., ' , (Rec. June'.2o, 5 p.m.); •• • \: . • London, June 19. ; G.;A. Syme, one of tho Victorian gates, in an interview, paid a high tribute to the efforts of the Conference! T ...was particularly struck with the unity of opinion among men of different schools of politics regarding the necessity for a strong Navy. .Glasgow. University has decided to confer on Monday the honorary Doctorate of Laws upon the following delegates :—Sir • Hugh Graham (Montreal), Mr.' J. A. Macdonald (Toronto), Mr. E. S Cunningham (Melbourne), Mr.; F.W. Ward (Sydney); Mr. M. •H; Town), and' Mr. s! Reid (Bombay). . CANADIAN DEFENCE AND THE MONROE .'.'./ DOCTRINE. ■■,;" V ' ./ > In. a debate in the Canadian Honse of Commons, Colonel Worthington, an Opposition member, said that a matter on which the Gov; ernment should be congratulated was that it had jit last realised that Canada must be prepared to defend herself at homo, and must not rely,, as formerly. 6ome V members of the Cabinet did, on the Monroe .doctrine. With the .formation of tho Imperial General Stuff and with a first and second lino-of defence thero.'would no doubt be some system of national defence with respect to Canadian borders and seaports. . ' ). '.; Colonel Eughes said that'in his'opinion tho training of the' General Staff should not bo left simply in tho hands of a few soleotcd officers of each country. It had been found m Great Britain that many officers' of tho General Staff whenbrought into actual practice in the field had turned out utter failures. Lord Roberts himself had said that in days gone by he never had the experience of Staff College training., ,After all, it was a question of, the man. .