FOR EMPIRE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 51, 2 March 1911, Page 3

FOR EMPIRE.

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. NEW ZEALAND EMISSARIES. FAREWELL TO SIR JOSEPH WARD AND DR. FINDLAY. GATHERING AT THE TOWN HALL. SPEECHES BY GOVERNOR AND CHIEF JUSTICE. The spate limits of the Municipal Concsrt Chamber were fully requisitioned last n ight, the occasion being a farewell banquet to Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. -Dr. Findlay _. who are about to proceed to England to represent New Zealand at the approaching Imperial Conference. His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) was in the chair, and, besides the guests, there were present His Excellency the Governor, Mr. A. L. Herdman (representing the Opposition), members of the Ministry, and representative men from all social and political spheres of activity. AN IMPERIAL NOTE. SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR. Replying to the toast of hie health, Hie J&Boellency, who met with a cordial reception, expressed his pleasure at being given the opportunity to associate himself with the object for which the dinner was organised, and of wishng bon voyage to Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. Dr. Findlay. On public grounds, too, and as the representative of His Majeaty the King, he wa«, he said, exceedingly glad to be present. It might be said by common consent that both Sir Joseph Ward and Dr. Findlay, during their absence from New Zealand, were "withdrawn from political controversy. (Applause.) They no longer represented party, but rather they assumed the poei tion of emissaries from New Zealand. Irrespective of political parties they represented the entire Dominion, with the task assigned to them of conveying, on behalf of the people of New Zealand, their loyal tribute of allegiance and devotion to King George on the occasion of his Coronation^ (Applause.) NEW ZEALAND'S LOYALTY. He could speak, from extended travels through New Zealand, of the depth, and of the sincerity of .that devotion. Tho special mission of Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. Dr. Findlay was to emphasise through^ their presence at that great celebration the united prayer of all New Zealand that the reign of King George and Queen Mary might be rich with every blessing to their Majesties, that it might be made illustrious by peaceful progress and the advance of all their loyal subjects of all creeds and all races both at Home and throughout the world within the orßit of the British Empire. LOOKING AHEAD. The conference which the guests of the evening were to attend would probably prove to be one of the greatest importance. Before it would be brought questions of the utmost importance fraught •with iesnea for the future of the Empire of th© most far-reaching character. It was the proud reflection of every British subject that he belonged to an organisation greater and more far-reaching than the particular country in which, he resided. (Applause.) He also felt ineensibly that that wider position added strength and substance to the country in which he lived. He realised within himself that •he was part of a great framework.. That framework much that was sound arid strong in its foundations. The aim and objecf of' the conference was to put still further form and substance into those foundations, to suggest, further means by wmVh the individual parts of the Empire might be .welded to the whole. (Applause.) AT HOME AND ABROAD. He had had the opportunity of studying this great problem of Imperial unity in a public career at the centre. . He was now afforded the opportunity of studying it more closely at the circumference. It was not in His province during the period of his office as Governor to offer any opinions. Those opinions would not; be becoming, nor, he ventured to believe, would tljey be profitable at this Juncture, but perhaps he might be alow ed to make one observation which he believed lay at the root of the whole question of Imperial unity — that was the increasing necessity, both at Home j and in the Dominions, of receiving information of what was taking place in different parts of the Empire. (Applause.) He- meant regular, accurate, and up-to-date information on questions of common interest to each and all of them, so that the Empire as a whole might know where it stood and how it was faring. Every day the necessity was increasing for knowledge and information of what was taking place outside the Empire, especially in regard to those questions which had an effect, or could have an effect, upon the Empire, either as a whole or in regard to any of its particular parts. He ventured to think that the more the .physical disabilities of isolation and distance could be reduced in the Empire, the more Tould be realised the effective advance of Imperial unity. (Applause:) It was only the strong and united Empire that «*.ould defend and protect that Empire as a whole or any part of it. TWO EMPIRES. Looking backover history he supposed .he might say with accuracy that tho two greatest Empires that had ever , been erected were, on the one hand theßonian 'Empire, and on the other hand the British Empire. (Applaueo.) The lloman Empire wa3 founded and maintained for a time upon the shifting sands of subjugation. The British Empire had teen founded, and was being maintained, and, he believed, would be maintained in generations to come, upon the rock of political freedom. (Loud cheers.) It was a union of free nations co-operating for a common purpose. _ It was sublime and lofty in its conception, and he ventured to say that it was practical and ■economical too, because _it was based upon the strength and vitality of those free nations. SEA POWER. Again, sea power was the corner stone oi the strength of the British Empire — (applause) — and he ventured to say that sea power exercised a predominant infiuence Upon tho whole of the world's policy. What was the guiding motive of ttiat influence? It was to maintain the peace of the world, and to establish in the days to come international cooperation. Those were the true ideals oi the British Empire, and that being so he thought it was worth while to make every endeavour to strengther and perpetuate so powerful an instrument for good in the world's destiny. (Cheers.) " OUR GUESTS." SIR ROBERT STOUT PROPOSES THE TOAST. I n proposing the toast of "Our Guests (Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. Dr. Findlay), Sir Robert Stout said he felt that the occasion was historic. They were sending from New Zealand messengers to attend the Coronation of the

only English Bang and Queen who had seen New Zealand, and who had endeared themselves to New Zealanders during their visit to the Dominion. Their messengers were going, not only to take part in that great event, but £-o discuss matters' of interest to every part of the Empire. He thought it was a good omen that both the delegates had been born under the Southern Cross. (Applause.) They had the inspiration of the country that they were representing. ABOVE POLITICAL PART?. "W© axe saying 'Good-bye' to them without a touch of political partisanship," said his Honour, " for we ha-v© risen on this occasion above all questions of political party." What, he asked, was the question to be discussed on this .occasion? It was a question of Empire. He regretted that he had not had the honour, in proposing the health of the delegates, of coupling with their namea the Leader of the Opposition. He thought it was exceedingly to bo regretted that when New Zealand sent delegates to the Home country they could not say that both political "parties were represented, so that those at Home might know it was- the v,oice not only of one political party, but the unanimous voice of New Zealand. (Applause.) However, they were sending the two delegates with, the consent and good favour of those in opposition in Parlii^ ment, for many of them were assembled at that gathering and apologies had come from many more. MATTER FOR DISCUSSION. Which was the question to be discussed at Home? Shortly, it was this: Is our Empire to exist? 'Empires in the past had risen and fallen." and they could not expect that the English Empire would not meet with grave difficulties in the future. The question for them waa : Was the family nation to be broken up? Great Britain was menaced in Europe, and it was evident that she had great* difficulties b&fore her. She was asking, he believed, only that she mjeht develop her own possessions, but still there was great rivalry, and he hoped th-s danger to which she was subjected < would impress upon them tha necessity of showing themselves more patriotic. He could say after forty-seven years' residence in New Zealand that .there is a patriotic feeling in the Dominion to-day stronger than it was forty-seven years ago. (Applause.) Our young New Zealanders — hundreds and thousands of them — who had never been outside New Zealand were a& patriotic as if they had been born in the Valley of the Tho,me& or the Tay or the Shannon. H© felt sure that "if trouble arose it would be found that the young colonials would 'cheerfully offer their assistance. (Applause.) *He believed that this great southern ,land of Australasia could never be invaded by a foreign foe; and, if the worst came to the worst, we would as a- last resource be able to proclaim a Monroe Doctrine for the Pacific and ask our kin beyond the sea to join with us and proclaim that freedom and liberty from European interference in the Pacific that they had obtained in North America. That was why he had always advocated that we should maintain a mail service with America, and have, as- it were, a monthly shuttle sent across the Pacific Ocean to weave us together , in one web. so that we could show to ;ffie • world at large that, though we are separated under different flags, yet we are one, and that we would not allow the troubles of Europe to interfere -with our freedom oi liberty in there southern seas. (Cheers.) Could they look to the future with hope? He believed they could:- and he believed they could ask their messengers to tell our people in the "Old Land that we best help them by developing our country, by Vetting strong, by getting civilised, by having a love for humanity, and by showing to all that we are not for War but for peace. '(Applause.) . A TRUCE DECLARED. ; MR. HERDMAN SUPPORTS THE TOAST. Supporting the toast, Mr. A. L. Herdman, M.P., said the gathering illustrated most forcibly the fact that when the immediate matter in hand was our loyalty and, devotoion to 'our Sovereign Lord the King we think alike, we speak alike, and we act alike. (Applause.) Even those irreconcilable foes, the legislators of the country, had for the time declared a truce. There were three things of which the Prime Minister might be assured, before he left New Zealand:* First, that every man and every woman realised that on such a historic occasion every dependency of the Empire should be- represented ; secondly, that the one gentleman in the community who should represent the Dominion was the Prime Minister; and, thirdly, thai. Sir Joseph Ward might feel perfectly confident that he left N«w 'Zealand carrying with him the moral support and good wishes of every man and 'woman in the country. (Cheers.) As to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Massey), he would like to assure Sir Joseph Ward that no one would have been more pleased, had circumstances permitted, to have been present on that occasion, and to have accompanied Sir Joseph Ward to the Old Country, had he been able to do so. Speaking as one who did not always think in harmony with the right hon. gentleman, he personally wished him well on the great undertaking. As New, Zealand's ambassador he (Mr. Herdman) felt confident that Sir Joseph Ward realised the great responsibility that rested upn his shoulders, and he knew from his experience of him that he would do his level best to cany out his responsible duties. (Applause.) SIR JOSEPH WARD. WHAT WILL ii~ CONSIDERED. After a song by Mr. D. J. Kenny, Sir Joseph Ward replied to the toast, tiis rising was the signal for an outburst of applause, which lasted for several minutes. Anyone in his position, he said, would feel proud. After returning thanks for the reception that had been accorded him, he went on to speak of the Imperial Conference. He regarded the British Empire, he said, as not being a collection of contributory provinces, but a, galaxy of free nations, united by kinship, by a common tongue, and by *a great and glorious past and the traditions that such a past produced. He believed that the scattered portions oi the British Empire were . hold together by the bonds of love, not by the bonds of law. No power on earth could unite a scattered nation more closely than the spontaneous and eager desire of its widespread people to gather round one liag and one Throne. (Applause.) He was, however, persuaded in his own mind that it would be necessary at the approaching conference to devise some method by which the will of the conference could bs given effect to. AN IMPORTANT POINT. "One of the tumbles wo have had in tne past,'" he said, "has been the fact that when resolutions have been discussed and havo been confirmed by the conference, they remain inoperative — no action takes place. It is necessary that definite results shall follow, in or-der to carry out the scheme of Imperial cooperation." A Political Imperial Federation was an ideal to which they were now stcadilj' working by natural stages. What its' ultimate shape might be he could not predict, nor did h^ think anyone else could. But the genius and temper "of our people made this much certain — that no system of federation would be allowed to invade the proper province of local autonomy. (Applause.)

FOR DEFENCE. At the approaching conference he placed before every other subject that of defence. What, he asked, was the moral effect; of the Dreadnought provided by New Zealand'/ It gave to the outside world, a clear conception of the fact that England did not stand alone. They had known right throughout the history of New Zealand that our only practical protection came from, the British Navy. The time was ripe for letting the world realise that England did not stand alone, and that we were prepared to take our part in the defence of the Empire. He realised that that was a magnificent object lesson of unity, ■■ and it had done more to bring about the cohesion of the Empire than anything that had been done previously. Apart from tho expense incurred it was an enormous gain in Imperial, organisation, and therefore he said that at this and future Imperial Conferences, standing out in the- forefront would be tho question of defence, behind which came every question that concerned all parts of the Empire. ' He recognised that '"n such a great matter as this the cooperation of the people of New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, and United South Africa must have a very potent effect upon public opinion. He expressed the belief that local navies, so far as the oversea dominions were concerned, were not to be compared with one powerful united British navy controlled by the Admiralty. There was no such J thing as politics connected with tho defence of New Zealand. We were I realising now more than ever before that it is the navy \v& have to look to fo? the protection of the exterior interests | of New Zealand. Now we were adopting the mobile defence system instead ! of the stationary harbour defences that I were previously regarded as sufficient) for our needs. At the conference thsy would require to discuss the question of naval contributions versus, local cruisers. On that subject there was room for a wide difference of opinion. Great Britain spent last year £68,363,700 upon defence, equal to 30s per head of the whole population. Canada spent £2,250,000, or 6s per head. Australia spent £2,834,000, or 12s B£d per head. New Zealand spent £477,095, or 9s 6d per head — twice what was spent five years ago. Then there was the important question of the amount South Africa should contribute towards defence. He thought he was right in saying that in proportion to its population New Zealand was bearing a fair share of the burden, but we did require the matter to be placed on a systematic footing. IMPERIAL COURT OF APPEAL. Another matter of interest to the ! whole of the Empire was that of an. Imperial Court of Appeal. In his opinion, there should be on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, a Judge from, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. They should hold office for five years, and he considered they would serve the purpose of keeping in touch with the legal and social systems of their respective coun- ' tries. OTHER QUESTIONS. j Then, again, they ought to remove | as far as possible, consistent with paramount interests, cases of international trouble between the Empire and other nations. They ought to set to work to j deal in a practical way with the question of coloured crews on ships, the question of uniformity in connection with naturalisation, company law, pa- I tent law, the law relating to destitute persons, taxation of absentees, and reciprocity. , AN ALL-RED CABLE. Another important matter was that of an All-Red cable service. How valuable it would be if tho OJd Land and Canada and Australia and New Zealand I owned an Atlantic cable and the overland line from the Atlantic to the- Pacific , across Canada-. We prof essed to have an' All-Red cable, but we had nothing of the kind. We had au AllRed cable from New, Zealand and Australia and Canada, but there the AllRed service ceased. Surely it would be possible to provide at a- comparatively small cost a really All-Red cable service. (Applause. ) ■ COINAGE. It would also be a good thing to discuss at the conference , the question of coinage so as to agree upon a uniform system of gold and silver coinage for the Commonwealth and New Zealand. They, could also discuss the question -of guaranteeing loans raised for defence purposes, so as to obtain such loan at tho lowest possible rate of interest. Sir Joseph Ward urged at length the supreme importance of having the conference open to the press, and he added that the present method of conducting business between the Government of the Old Land and the Governments of the outlying portions of the British Empire is effete and unsatisfactory, and required .to be replaced by one 'which .would enable the machine to be moved more readily and without the circumlocution that had been in operation for so many years. (Applause) THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL. The Hon. Dr. Findlay also replied to the toast. He' was, he said, proud of the mission, before him, and proud of the man with whom he was associated. The Minister devoted the greater portion of his remarks to discussing the aggressive policy of Germany, and the necessity for Great Britain and New Zealand adopting a strong defensive policy. They had, he said, to deal with a proud nation, a courageous nation, and they _ had to- deal with it in a businesslike way. "We must do, we must not talk," said the Minister. The conference must settle down to definite, detailed work. It must get away from principles and generalities to the humbler work of way's and means. It must be useful. It must be, above all, the means of providing the essence of that defence which he believed they all saw must be raised by our nation if we were to continue our greatness. They had in New Zealand another new commandant, a great soldier, who would do more and more towards perfecting the defences of New Zealand, xney had agreed to place themselves under a compulsory training for the protection of our shores. That showed a spirit of sacrifice. It .showed that they were- prepared to do more than talk. As far as in his power lay he would do his best to justify the confidence that had been placed in him. (Applause.) At the invitation of Sir Joseph Ward, the health of tho chairman was drunk with musical honours, and the proceedings concluded with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" and "God Save the I King." A small band from the Wellingi ton professional orchestra played selections' during the evening. AUCKLAND'S SEND-OFF f»2 TELEGRAPH — I'KE.SS ASSOCIATION.'] ] AUCKLAND. Ist March. Tho Executive Committee who have in. ' hand the arrangements for according the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), and the Attorney-General (the Hon. Dr. Findlay) a fitting farewell on their departure from Auckland on Monday, en route for England, to attend the Coronation and the Imperial Conference, met this morning. The draft of tho address to bo presented to Sir Joseph Ward was approved. It was also arranged that the committee should charter the ferry steamer Albatross in which to accompany the Victoria down the harbour, and the Town Clerk was instructed to draw up an official list of invitations to be issued. The total number of invitations to be issued is not to exceed 500.