EARL DUDLEY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue LXXVI, 1 July 1908, Page 7

EARL DUDLEY.

A GATHERING OF AUSTRALIANS EULOGY.

AUSTRALIA THE HOME OF A 1 WHITE RACE. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. LONDON, 30th June. At a banquet tendered to Lord Dudley, Governor-General-elect of Australia, at the Hotel Cecil yesterday, there was the largest and most representative gathering of Australians seen in London for many years. SPEECH BY EARL CREWE. The Earl of Creiwe, Secretary of State for the Colonies, presided, and in proposing the toast of the guest's health, warmly eulogised Lord Dudley's conduct during his Irish Vice-royalty and remarked- that he had evinced an unbiased judg ment which would prove valuable in his new office, which was one of the highest in King Edward's service. Lord Crewe also paid a tribute to Lord Northcdte's tact and bountiful hospitality, in which he had been ably seconded by Lady INorthcote, and added : "Australian politics are not always very closely followed or quite properly understood here." Australia desired to remain the home of a white race. That desire had been sometimes misunderstood. It must be remembered that from the standpoint of mere material prosperity it was in some respects a self-denying ordinance, and he would never allow the motives of Australian statesmen and people to be misinterpreted if he could help it. Australia had undertaken perhaps tho hardest part of all the white man's • burden — 'that of administering a terililtory peopled largely of a native race In that task he wished her every possible prosperity. The Colonial Office did not underratethe difficulty of such tasks, nor wa>» Lord Dudley's coming task devoid of difficulty- "The Australian Constituion," said Lord Crewe, "is a great monument to one of the most eminent of my predecessors, and to the energy of Australian statesmen. Now Lord Dudley, as a motorist, is aware that a new machine is apt to have some grinding of surfaces and overheating of bearings before it has run a certain distance. Those who see difficulties existing ill the working of the Australian Constitution may take heart." Similar difficulties were associated with the early years of the American Constitution. Ere long any existing difficulties of the Commonwealth, if not forgotten, would be positively rejoiced in. "Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit." They would say, "if we have not been so virile a race, if our statesmen had been less urgent and energetic, we would have settled down more easily than we did to the working of this constitution. Any little rubs and difficulties are merely testimony to our qualities, just as a highcouiaged horse in harness fesls the rub of the collar which would pass unnoticed by a humble relative drawing a costerinonger's cart." "BuY continued Lord Crewe, "if Lord Dudley finds any little symptoms of fraction I am certain his tact and personal judgment will contribute to its alleviation. He goes among new faces, but not other minds — 'Coelum non animum mutant gui trans mare currunt.' He will find in Australia that the purest local patriotism is of assistance to tho wider patriotism of Empire ; and that wider patriotism he will find there in abundance." LORD DUDLEY REPLIES. Lord Dudley, who was given a great ovation, said that nobody recognised more clearly that he did the responsibilities of his new office, ,or how easy it would be to make mistakes. Tt was, therefore, very encouraging to be able to take up his duties with the goodwill of those among whom he was going to dwell. He was anxious to do so unfettered by any pieconceivod notions or premature utterances. He recognised .clearly that he was not the exponent of a particular policy, but the representative of a Constitutional Sovereign in a country whose constitution was largely founded on that of Britain, and, therefore, must bear* in mind the importance of reticence and caution. Questions were apt to arise, wherein the standpoints of the colonies differed from that of the Motherland, but there need be no misgivings if they were treated in a broad and sensible way ; and if thera continued to exist in the colonies and the Motherland a constant recognition of the necessity of mutual concession the Empire would be a great co-partnership, each partner living his lifo and rearing his family under conditions differing from those of his associates. Hence, while cohesion was a vital matter, elasticity was essential, too. His Excellency described Lord Crowe as a wise, cautious, fearless, and broad-minded adviser, and hoped that with the help of the Secretary for the Colonies and the distinguished advisers suriounding him in Australia, he (the speaker) would be successful in the discharge of his duties.