CABLE NEWS. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S RETURN.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 289, 12 June 1907, Page 2

CABLE NEWS. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S RETURN.

INTERVIEWED AT PERTH. [l»Y KUtCTBIC ULSUBAFH— OOI'TBIOHT.J [n^kFRBSS ABSOO7ATION.' Perth, June 11. Interviewed this morning, on his return from London, Sir Joseph Ward, asked to state his opinion on the general results of both the Imperial Conference and the Maritime Conference, stated that in his opinion both conferences had justified the calling together of the representatives of the self-governing colonies. In respect to the Maritime Conference the results affected the Commonwealth more than New Zealand for the reason that this country already had a Shipping and Seamen's Act upon the Statute Book that provided for nearly all the matters that were dealt with by the Conference. Some of the points, however, of general application were dealt with which were of material interest to New Zealand. The protections of local shipowners, as well as the officers and seamen, from unfair competition from abroad, together with the assimilation of various rules of practice where it was possible to give effect to them, were most valuable. He intended to ask the Parliament of New Zealand to legislate in accordance with the resolutions carried at the Conference in places where legislation was necessary. It would, in his opinion, have been a good thing had the Maritime Conference . met ten years ago, for then the representative men of England and the Colonies might have devised common, grounds of action, and so prevented many difficulties that had subsequently arisen. One great good resulting from the Conference follows from the fact that the shipping interests of the United Kingdom and the colonies were brought face to face round a common table where personal discussion and frank interchange of opinion did so much to clear and remove misunderstandings that would inevitably exist where everything was left to correspondence and despatches. Sir Joseph Ward said the success of the Conference was in no small measure due to the tact and ability displayed by the Hon. Llyod George. Where to many conflicting interests were concerned the risk of friction was great, and that this did not occur was due not only to the reasonable attitude of the delegates but equally to the courtesy and judgment of the President. While naturally and properly alive to his enormous responsibilities as the' official head of the world wide shipping trade of the United Kingdom, he showed an evident desire to meet the views of the Commonwealth and New Zealand wherever he possibly could. In reference to the Imperial Conference, here the difficulties prsenting themselves were in some respects great indeed. It was the first real business conference of representative men from the oversea dominions that had taken place in England. Former conferences had done good work, but that work 'was entirely of a preliminary character. The practical issues were first dealt with at this Conference. He would have greatly liked to have seen preferential trade agreed to by the British representaties. However, he could not shut his eyes to the position of the British Government, who were returned with a record majority pledged among other things, to a continuance of freetrade. In common with other matters of the Conference Sir Joseph Ward said he had pressed the point that preference was quite distinct from free trade and could be given effect to without violating the principles of that doctrine. The British Government, ' however, j were not prepared to accept this view ; hence, the most that could be said was that a good deal was done in the way of educating public opinion upon that point. The most important step was taken in establishing the Conference as a permanent institution, with the Prime Minister of Great Britain as standing President. The actual constitution of the, Conference, its functions, and its machinery for doing its work were left to be settled by a future meeting, and this, in his opinion, was a ve^y wise step. In the meantime the machinery would be worked by the Colonial Office. The discussions that took place in naval defences of tfea Empire—particularly in relation to the colonies — was of the greatest importance. In respect to naval defence, the views of the Commonwealth differed from those of New Zaaland, and Sir Joseph Ward naturally expressed no opinion as to the course pursued by, the Commonwealth, as it was a matter entirely for them to decide upon. New Zealand preferred to cor.t:r.uc the existing system under which the whole naval defence is conducted and controlled' by the Admiralty, New Zealand contributing uuon a money basis. He had explained at the' Conference that they had yet many years for the development of their country to provide for obligations snch as this entailed, and were as much as the colony was justified in undertaking. He hoped, however, that the course the Commonwealth proposed to take would turn out to be one of great s\iccess to them. Sir Joseph Ward further expressed satisfaction that his suggestions in favor of the cheapening of postal and cable rates, and the quickening of mail communications, together witl: the establishment of commercial delegates representing the British^ Government in the British colonies as representatives- in .the Conference, but also by the British Government, and he hoped that practical results would follow. Sir Joseph Wardi in reply to an inquiry as to the attitude of the British Government at the Conferences expressed himself in high terms as to the courtesy tmd consideration extended to all the (delegates by lx>rd Elgin, who most capably presided. (Received June- L2th, 9.7 a.m.) I'erth, June 12. Sir Joseph Ward says it is undo niable there is a great vant of knowledge concern^ ig the position of the self-governing dominions, and the development that it taking place in them. I must »a;r that Canada to some extent should be excepted, for the reason that sh< has made advertising an art. Shj advertises wherever her represent itives are to be found, and makes p. display of what Canada has to offer n the way of land attractions, and en ployment for workers, in a manner rhich is extremely successful. For instance, I visited the Dublin Exhibition, where Canada had a separate court, which was filled up in such a way that visitors had before them a realistic presentation of wheat fields and dairying land, with cattle grjaaingon the farm. As the outcome of Canada's pushfulness, I saw three i of four steamers laden with hitman freight leave England and Scotland for Canada. The Dominion is better known in England than any other of the self-governing colonies. Its comparative nearness to England is also a factor keeping it before the eyes of the British people, although I must, in justice to our representatives, say they spare no pains to keep their countries before the publics. < Yet our expenditure in advertising' is very small indeed compared with that of Canada. British people feftt preference will raise the price of Commodities to the consumer, but in jny opinion rivalry between the cokmjies for the Home market would keep prices at a fair level. Our diffici H<y in the way of preference is the \ chef that Canada, Australia and New Zealand could not supply sufficient vheat to take the place of that at pr «emt imported into Great Britain froii Russia, America, and other countries, but I believe Canada and Austr ilia alone could, in a short time, if they had the certainty of the marl et, more than supply the requirements. However, under the circumi tances, it was impossible to carry o ir preferential proposals at the race it Conference, but we can hope for better things from the next. Witt reference to the mail subsidy, I adrocated an improved Atlantic-Paei] ie service across Canada to New Z Mtland and Australia. My view was that we should aim at a twenty days' service between New Zealani L and London — four days across the i iil»ntic, four days across Canada, am I twelve days across the Pacific to Nei r Zealand. It is