THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1195, 2 August 1911, Page 6

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

; SPEECH BY HON, J., R> SINCLAIR.. 'IMPERIAL QUESTIONS. ! Tho Hon. J. R. SINCLAIR (Otago), in ■■ moving the Address-in-Reply, said ho did ; not propose'to-discuss tho legislation pro- ; posed in tho present session which, ho j took it, would be largely of an amending character. Ho would deal rathor ; with tho Imperial Conference and questions which make for the nnity of Em- : pire. One of these questions was the creation of an Imperial Council through ' which tho colonics could forward their '■ views. While all might bo agreed that '. our people 6hould be brought closer to- '• grittier : there might bo differences of opin- ! .ion as'to how this should bo done. Un- ■ ddnbtedly the trend was towards closer ; unity and to keep our position it must lie ! by acting as a united wholo in which the colonies would have • a voice. Were we j to. be content to be represented in the '. Old Country by a High Commissioner ? Ho was not speaking for the moment on ' the commercial aspect of tho question. Preference for tho colonies would, he thought, ■ have to precede any closer, union and tho ■ultimate shaping of thefacts into ono im- • perial whole. They saw what was tak- •■' irig place. in • Canada which led tho way in preference. Canada asked- for ! preference and was disappointed and was, I now in treaty with the U.S.A.' for reciprocal relations. The development must do one of two things—either weaken, tho Empire or strengthen it. Was Canada ■■ starting the parting ,of the ways? No ■' ono knoWj.'.but that it was increasing, the difficulty of preference with the colonies. ■. Different suggestions had been made as ' to how an Imperial-.Council could best bo formed. Some thought it was only :, necessary to create-an Imperial Council ; for Defence. Imperial, defenco was undoubtedly of first''importance.. There could bo no.truer union-than a union fot ' defence. They must, however, have fiscal , unity _ as well as fighting unity. The questions wero difficult, but the greatest : danger was not tho difficulties but the policy of treating them "as' insuperable. As great difficulties had been encountered and overcome in the past. Imperial Unity. There was no donbt tho question of ': Imperial unity touched the relationship of Brijain and her colonies. The colonies wished to share in tho responsibilities of Empire, but they wanted a nioro perfect Imperial system. The colonies should 'bo given a clearer voice'on Imperial questions. How could that best be done? Tho autonomy of tho self-governing colonies would have to be maintained—(hear, : hear)—but they could have restricted rights .with restricted . responsibilities. ' The best means of giving the colonies a voice in Empire matters ■' was broadly- on the lines put forward at' the Imperial Conferenco of 1907. Members need not necessarily be Prime Ministers of the : self-governing colonics, but should be as free from p.irty bias -and. approach all questions with an eye to the common good of our people. Their opinions would be ■ equivalent to the verdict of an inter-Im- . perial/jury upon Imperial questions. In such a council it would have to be pro-vided-that the colonies would bo outside " .and beyond tasing by an ouisido body. -.Hbr.-tver much we might differ as to tho means, all desired to promote a wholesome national unity. He wondered that preferential treatment of our own people had not again been brought up at tho last Conference. The reason was. that tho Mother Country was opposed to it, , but surely this was, not sufficient. At former conferences the question had been put forward as a means of strengthening and drawing our people closer together. If we were to kcop our positionas the leading people wo must keep our own work fo> our own workers. Kcverting to the need for tariff reform, Mr. Sinclair said preference in tariff treatment would bo. a bond of Empire. Th'o colonies were not ready for I r ree-.tradn within the Empire. Preferential treatment must como first. Britain need no longer be dependent on foreign countries for her food supplies, ajul she should encourago her own colonies to meet her requirements. If not by preference, then by some other moans . the scattered parts ox tho Empire would have.to be drawn together. ■In importance, the question of.unity overshadowed every oth'er consideration, but whether preference was given. .or withheld it would make no difference to the loyalty of the Dominions to the Motherland. (Applause.) • "SHEER WASTE OF.TIME." AN AUCKLAND MEMBER'S VIEWS. The Hon. S. T. GEORGE (Auckland), • who seconded the motion, considered that the Addrcss-in-Kcply to his Excellency's ■ Speech was sheer waste of timo. (Cries of No"!) It would probably take two or threo weeks, and its purport was simply that honourable gentlemen took tho opportunity of' making long addresses to their constituents. A,voice: Ave you speaking to tho gallery? The Speaker said perhaps ho might bo standing for a seat in the other Houso —that' was his business. After members had made a long and exhaustive speech they got so many thousand copies struck off finm Hansard and posted them to the electors in their particular district. This - was one of tho 'cheapest and most effective ways of addressing tho electors. He thought this had been a great opportunity for the Government to bring down a bold and progressive policy, and he would like to havo seen such- brought down. He referred to the railways and tho need for linking up the main lines. He considered co-operative labour did not push the works quickly enough. A loan shonld be raised to push on the railways. The Hon. W. Beehan: You would want £20,000,000.

Tbs Hon. S. T. George thought. that even if — this were so—and he did not agree for n moment that it was—it would "bo a profitable investment. He would push all the railways on at once. Population was wanted hero in all directions. The factories, oflices, and tho homes all needed help, and ho thought something should be done to. meet tho position. They had to be careful in We 'legislation they passed, and must bo very cnrefnl' in the restrictions they placed on capital. For many years wo had been prospecting for oil, and wo now know that we hail nil; A Teport had boon made by Mr. Henry, who had told tho speaker that ho had a vory high opinion of the oilfields of New Zealand. This was ono of the biggest things before us, as in a few •.-ears steamers would be driven by oil, ■Hid there would be a boom in oil in tiiis country. The debate was adjournexl at 9.30, and '? >\p Council rose until 2.30 this afternoon.