SIR G. REID

Evening Star, Issue 14318, 17 March 1910, Page 6

SIR G. REID

THE COLONIAL INSTITUTE BANQUET. IMPERIAL REPRESENTATIVES. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 16. Speaking at the Colonial Institute banquet, the Colonial Secretary (Lord Crewe), who presided, said that the duties of the Agents-Gcncral were in nowise entrenched upon by Sir G. 11. Reid’s arrival. He thought any comparison between Commissioners and Agents-General and Ambassadors was singularly infelicitous. He preferred to regard all of them as Imperial statesmen, whose duties wore partly to look after the part of the Empire which they represented, and also to bo able to give opinions on the many Imperial problems without parly trammels. Ho thought it unlikely that the present arrangements, whereby the Secretary of State for the Colonics looked after tho business connected with the Oversea Dominions and the Crown colonies, would be permanent. A separation of the duties was probable within the near future. His idea was that an Imperial Council could be best promoted by taking the Oversea Dominions into conference, and whenever the interests of tho Dominions were concerned with any diplomatic problem, placing tho utmost confidence in tho statesmen of tho Dominions. THE QUESTION OF PREFERENCE. NOT YET REACHED THE POINT OF SACRIFICE. LONDON. March 16. Sir G. If. Reid, in the course of his reply, recalled tho rich stream of emigrants to the Australian goldfield.-. They now saw in the rising greatness of Australia, in its rapidly-increasing strength, and in its growing volume of trade, the magnificent dividends which Australia was rendering under British colonisation and enterprise. Tho Australian system of government represented perhaps the largest measure of trust in the people and freedom for the community that was to-day visible on the world’s face. The task of developing the Commonwealth was just as much an Imperial task as was the settling of Homo political difficulties, and was a task which excited no party difficulties. Tho Imperial and colonial Governments could unite in using their utmost influence to secure suitable British emigrants for the Empire’s Dominions. Many suggestions were being made for adding to tho ties of undoubted affection now existing. The most anxious task was that of reconciling free play and self-interest with an enlightened regard for the Empire’s welfare. After mentioning, amid cheers, Australia’s voluntary preference for the Motherland, Sir G. 11. Reid remarked that he was bound to add that there was in Australia a strong desire to go further and reach a reciprocal arrangement —(chK;rs) —but that desire had never, as far as he could see, got the length of sacrificing their own growing manufactures. LOYALTY NOT DEPENDENT ON PREFERENCE. A SLANDER .TO THINK OTHERWISE. LONDON,’ March 16. (Received March 17, at 8.20 n.m.) Sir George Reid went on to say that the insinuation that Australia’s loyalty was mixed up with the Fiscal question, and depended on the Motherland’s answer to these questions of Preference and Reciprocity, was an unfounded slander.—(Cheers.) Any views on a departure from tho present position were based on tho conviction that it embodied an advantage for strengthening the Motherland and Australia alike. Australians would scorn it if it were to come at the expense of the Motherland. ‘THE TIMES’S ’ HOPES. LONDON, March 16. ‘ Tho Times ’ hopes that Lord Crewe’s remark foreshadows that the affairs of the Dominions arc coining under the immediate cognisance of the Premier.