IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1407, 6 April 1912, Page 5

IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. CONFERENCE PROPOSALS. STATEMENT BY THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. By Tclcsraph—Prcffl Association-Copyright (Rec. April i, 10.20 p.m.) London, .April 4. In the House of Commons Mr. H. Page Croft (Unionist) drew attention to the lack of organisation'of Imperial affairs, and the Government's failure to carry out the Imperial Coufcrenco proposals, including preference. The Colonial Office had failed to respond to the changing conditions of tho times. Major Archer-Shee. (Unionist) suggested sending trained experts to the colonies and protectorates as Trade Commissioners, and asked why the Government had not formed a subsidiary conference to deal with tho proposal for a State-owned Atlantic cable.

Mr. Samuel (Postmaster-General), in reply, stated what had been done in tho way of cable reductions, and adhered to the statement that an Atlantic cable would involve a fifty per cent. loss. Tho Honso would be ill-advised to press tho Government to incur the expenditure.

Mr. Harcourt (Colonial Secretary) said the Government had taken, definite action in regard to twelve subjects raised at Uib last Conference, including copyright, patents, accident compensation, exhibitions, naturalisation, enforcement of Court judgments, commercial awards, and wireless communications; and a Bill strengthening tho Appeal Court would be reintroduced this session.