NEW ZEALAND DINNER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1153, 14 June 1911, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND DINNER.

GATHERING IN LONDON. DOMINION'S ENTERPRISE AND PATRIOTISM. , SPEECH BY MR. HARCOURT. Dy TcleeraDh—Proßß Association—Oouyrieht. (Rec. Juno 13, 9.35 p.m.) London, Juno 13.. Three hundred gTiests attended tho annual Now Zealand dinner at tlio Trocaderc Hotel. Among those present were:—Lord Plunket, Mr. W. I'. 1) coves, Sir William Bussell, Dr. Findlay, and tho AgentsGeneral. Mr. Lewis Harcourt, Secretary of Stat( for tho Colonies, in proposing the toasf "New Zealand," said the Dominion was successfully solving tho riddlo of Iclosei settlement, and the fact that two million acres of land had been thrown open for settlement since January was evidence oi tho opportunities offered to British youths of small means. New Zealand's filial act in presenting a Dreadnought to tho Empire, continued Mr. Harcourt, had helped to bind th( nations of the Empire together with a silken cord no enemy would bo able tc break. The Imperial Conference marked an' advance in Imperial co-operation beyond itf predecessors, and the keynote of future Imperial development would be not centralisation, but co-operation. Sir Joseph Ward agreed that it wa6 impossible to judge the Imperial Conference by tho resolutions passed. Personally he was determined to continue to urge changes in the Imperial system, which ho believed would be found essential. Iu tho future tho Dominions required to do more than to return the protection which Britain gavo them. A combination of tho nations of tho Empire would mako it impossible for any country to enter upon a policy of aggression. Sir E. Montague Nelson proposed f he toast "Our Guests," and Lord Eanfurly and Mr. Fisher, Australian Prime Minister, responded. Mr. Fisher declared that New Zealand led the world in social legislation. Australia was following her example and perhaps taking a step ahead. Ho hoped tho time was near when Australia and Nosr Zealand would bo able to protect themselves against aggression, leaving tho Home Country free to guard the heart of tho Empire.