SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1208, 17 August 1911, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

INTWIEW AT COLOMBO, DOMINIONS AND THE EMPIRE..! THE STEAD INTERVIEW. Br'Tolccraoh—Press Associatfon-QoDiricbt (Rcc. Aug. 16, 9,55 p.m.) Perth, August 10. Tho "Ceylon Observer" has published an interview with Sir Joseph Ward with respect to Mr. Stead's interview with Mr. Fisher, l'rimo Minister of Australia. Sir Joseph Ward so id tho oversea Dominions were certainly loyal to tho Crown, and tho outstanding factor of their public sentiment was their determination to make tho scattered portions of tho Empire stronger, while preserving local autonomy to the fullest extent. Ho did not believe any leading statesman in tho Dominions could long .maintain his position if ho advocated an independence which would signify severance during a timo of peril. Deferring to the Imperial Conference, Sir Joseph Ward said each Conference liad brought about a. bettor understanding between tJio Old Country and tho Dominions, and a. better conception of tho difficulties in tho way of closer co-ordination or ,co-pcration between tho respective parts. Tho supreme question for individuals as well as Parliaments ami Governments was to ensure that tho strength of the Britkh ivas such as to render it undesirable for any Empire competitors to try and wrest tho position which tho British Empiro possesses, So far as Now Zealand was concerned, her peoplo believed it in tho best interests of tho Empire that they should regard themselves as one. ' "We recognise," continued Sir Joseph Wa i" d > " th at if in a war any combination of Powers got the better of England they would get the better of New Zealand concurrently. So the policy we adopt is to support the Brittech Navy so far as we aro able. We do not think New Zealand should start a lceal Navy," _, "WHITTLED DOWN." ME..PLSJJER AND THE INTERVIEW. (Itec. Aug. 16, 11.0 p.m.) London, August 16. The "Morning Post" declares that Mr. Fisher's disavowal of the "Kevicw of Revicw.s" interview has been whittled down sinco ho returned to Melbourne. This is unfortunate, as Mr. Fisher, tho "Post" adds, left an impression in South Africa and in England that ho sometimes spoko with two voices.