TRIBUTE TO OUR PRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 10 February 1926, Page 9

TRIBUTE TO OUR PRESS

GREAT FORCE FOB GOOD IN NATIONALISE.

(Reuters Telegram.)

(Received 10th February, 9 a.m.)

LONDON, 9th February. Sir James, Allen presided ortr the welcome to the Press delegate* to the Empire Conference held is Melbourne last year. In toasting "The Quest*," he r,-ged that British manuf aettrer* watch the opportunity to establish branch factories in the Dominion, but warned them regarding preference* that any unfair advantage! that British manufacturers took of New Zealand's goodwill would be most, detrimental to the growth of trade. Referring to emigration,' Sir James announced that the first bitch of girl* under the Flock Home scheme, number* ing twelve, will sail in March to New Zealand. He expressed the opinion that the scheme of nominated emigrant* did not lead to the selection of the beat type of Britisher, but provided a good average. ''• + ■■"','. ■'■ Lord Burnham, in responding, described New Zealand a* the. most .homely and Home-tied of the Dominion*. H« praised the Press of New Zealand m • great force for good in the national life. Its association with the Pro** of Australia enabled it to command a new* service keeping it* fellow-«itii«n» Well in touch with Imperial affairs. ■ Maori* asd British Sate. He declared that the Maori* wtrf the most attractive type of aboriginal* with which British civilisation had come into contact. Their reeoneUia* tion with British rule was one of th« finest achievements of Empire story, and their incorporation in the social and poUtical life a triumph of «h« democratic rale of the Union Jack. He considered that if nominated emigrants reached 15,000 a year, Britain had no reason to complain. Earl Jellicoe, responding to the toast of New Zealand, found only one fault with New Zealand, namely, that it was too small. It was terrible to think that emigration was limited to from 12,0uu to 15,000 annually in a land where the emigrant was welcomed and worked under excellent conditions, with every prospect of succeeding.