PREMIERS ON TOUR

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 November 1926, Page 5

PREMIERS ON TOUR

WELCOME AT EDINBURGH. BAGPIPES AND HAGGIS. -Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, November 24. Messrs Bruce, Coates, MacKenzieKing, and the Maharajah of Burd wan began a tour under the auspices of the ’British Empire League by' travelling td Edinburgh, where they, spent a most interesting day. They were first admitted to the freedom of the city before if targe assembly at the Usher Hull, which was made picturesque by the presence of kilted school cadets, and magistrates, and councillors in their scarlet and ermine robes. By receiving the freedom of the city they joined an illustrous roll of burgesses, including Lord Macaulay, Charles Dickens, Dr Livingstone and Lord Kitchener. The new freemen were acclaimed with great enthusiasm.

The speeches of the Premiers paid a tribute to Scotsmen’s prominence as Empire-biulders, and sounded strong optimism in connection with the work accomplished at the Imperial Conferance.

Mr Coates, after detailing the important part Scotsmen had played in the development Of New Zealand, said the recent Conference had produced most valuable results. Sb far as the partnership with the Empire was concerned, it might not have achieved anything materially new. but it had definitely set a seal on the progress of imperial relationship, which had come about naturally* by evolution to the present relationship as the result of the Conference. The necessity of retaining closer touch with the Dominions would devolve upon the British Statesmen.' New Zealand herself, he said, intended immediately to take steps to improve the contract, between Wellington and London, providing for more direct personal communication. It was hoped also to arrange a system for the interchange of views on the outlook with the sister Dominions. The Vice-Chancellor of the University referred to Edinburgh as “the University of Greater Britain.” It had turned loose upon a sick world sixteen thousand qualified practitioners, nearly five thousand of whom were in the Dominions, but soon there would be no need for greater Britain’s sons to come to Edinburgh, except for a post graduate course, as the Dominion Universities were attaining such high efficiency. The visitors next lunched at the historic City Chambers, where the guests were played in by the bagpipes. They enjoyed a meal in nowise imitating London’s Continental menus, but of characteristic bcottish fare, including turkey, and plum pudding. There also was a haggis brought in with due ceremony. The gathering dispersed with the singing of '‘Will Ye No Come Back Again.” The next ceremony was the confernment of honorary Doctorships of Law’s upon Mr Coates, the Maharajah of Burdwan, and Mr Monroe. The Dean of the Faculty of Laws, in presenting the degree to Mr Coates, referred to him as “one who, like Cincinhatus, left his farm with a fine physique, and a sane outlook to serve his country, first in war, and later in peace.” The Prime Ministers took tea with the University Union, giving Messrs Bruce, Coates, and the Maharajah chances of chatting with students from their respective countries. The Dominion representatives were guests during the evening at an informal dinner given by Mr Whitelaw, Chairman of the London and North Eastern Railway, after which they attended a Victoria League reception at Lady Findlay’s house. ARRIVAL AT GLASGOW LONDON, Nov. 25. Glasgow provided one of its most dismal days, fog and drizzle prevailing for the visit of the Dominion Prime Ministers. Mr. Coates and party travelled early and separately from Edinburgh. Mr. Bruce and the others followed later. They were welcomed at Aberconway by Sir Thomas Bell, chairman of Brown and Coy., whose works at Clyde Bank, the visitors inspected and where they saw. the cruisers Australia and Canberra. The hull of the Australia is completed and she will be launched in February and commissioned a year later. The Canberra will be- launched in May. The work has been held up owing to the strike, and lack of material. The cruisers will include the latest improvements. In the language of an Australian officer aboard, they will be the most efficient fighting machines permitted by the Washington Treaty. Mrs Bruce, aboard the Australia, started the electrically driven machinery for planing the edges of the gun turret base, and took away the first shavings of the process. The party later saw the boilers and complete turbinq unit for the new high speed cruisers. Three Australian naval engineering officers, Commanders Ross and Mears and Lieut.-Com-mander Carr, brother of “Slip” Carr, were presented to Mr and Mrs Bruce. Later with Mr .Monroe, the Bruces were entertained by the Glasgow Commerce representatives at luncheon at Brown’s works, where»there was a large attendance. Mr Bruce, unexpectedly called on to speak, delivered one of his most forceful speeches, for Empire defence by the Dominions, who he said, claimed the rights and privilege of the status defined by the Imperial Relations Committee, and must shoulder a corresponding burden. Mr Coates and party in the morning inspected Arrols’ Works at Bridgeton, which recently received a million and a half order for steel work for New Zealand’s Railway workshops. They also saw the new turbine locomotive which- was specially steamed up to give the visitors a ride to Bearcimores,’ where they saw the engines of the new airships. All Dominions-’ representatives took tea at the University, and in the evening attended a dinner as guests of the Glasgow Corporation. The all day topic in Glasgow was the Corporation’s year-old embargo against alcohol at municipal functions. The embargo was hot removed even in honour of the Dominions' visitors. Light was thrown on the Corporation’s drastic decision by the Glasgow citizens’ dethat there was more drunkenness in Glasgow in one day than in a whole week in any other city, though it was not apparent at present, owing to the shocking unemployment. QUESTIONS v IN COMMONS LONDON, Nov. 25. In the Commons, arising out of the Imperial Conference, Sir Kinlock Cook inquired whether Mr. Baldwin would undertake - that steps wxnild not be taken to, impair the British Dominion subjects’ right of appeal'to the Privy Council without the Imperial Parliament being consulted. ' Mr.- Baldwin replied .he could not give the assurance that Parliament would be consulted, except to the extent involving .legislation. Sir Kinlock Cook asked whether a

change was contemplated in the right of a Dominion Governor to refuse his assent to a bill passed by a Dominion Parliament or reserve any measure for the Crown’s consideration. . Mr. Baldwin said that this aspect of a Governor-General’s position was not dealt with' by the Inter-Imperial Relations report. He was not aware that any change was contemplated. POST-CONFERENCE COMMENTS ULSTER RE-ASSURED. LONDON, November 24. Sir W. Joynson Hicks (Home Minister) in a statement, declares: “The proposed change in the King’s title does not affect Northern Ireland’s existing constitutional status, or its position in relation either to Britain or to the Irish Free State. The new title does not define the political units composing the British Empire. It is merelj' a geographical definition of the territories of which His Majesty is King. Any suggestions that the new title will give the Irish Free State authority to act for the whole of Ireland are groundless.” DUTCH COMPLACENCY. CAPETOWN, November 24. The Government’s Dutch paper here publishes a cartton entitled “Dropping the Pilot,” representing John Bull descending the ladder and General Hertzog in the attitude which the Kaiser occupies in Sir John Tenniel’s original cartoon on the fall of Prince Bismark. The ship is called “South Africa.” Practically all the Cape Union Ministers have rushed into print acclaiming General Hertzog. CANADIAN PARTNERSHIP. OTTAWA, November 24. In the opinion of Mr Hugh Guthrie (acting Conservative Leader) the report. of the Imperial Conference raises questions of the gravest import to Canada and to the Empire. He said: “I fail to see anything in the conclusions viewed in any way, as strengthening or consolidating imperial interests. Their tenor is all the other way. As an actual statement of the status quo between the Dominions and the Mother Country the report may be of some value, but I fear that the whole tendency of the document is to loosen, rather than to strengthen, the foundations of the Empire, without conferring any practical benefit upon the Dominions.” Pacific cable board. LONDON, November 24. The Imperial Conference’s report on the reorganisation of 'the Pacific Cable Board provides that the British representatives on the Board of seven be reduced from three to two. The Board, not Britain, is to appoint the Chairman by majority vote, for a term of three years. If he is not a member of the Board, the latter’s number will be increased to eight, the Chairman to have a casting vote. The Chairman’s salary is to be a minimum of £lOOO, and, for each member. £3OO. It is required that at the beginning of .1927-28 year, the Board shall devote to the reserve fund, ten per cent, of the net profits of £10,00'.) whichever is the greater, or the whole profits, if they do not exceed £lO,OOO, such fund to be useable for repairs, extensions or meeting annual deficits. It is also provided that surpluses for the two financial years beginning 1/4/27, be divisible among the .partners, and thereafter be divisible into two equal parts, one of which is to be handed over to Britain in repayment of outstanding capital, and the other part is to be divisible as profits among the partners. This arrangement continues till all the outstanding capital has been repaid to Britain, thereafter, the surpluses are divisible as partners’ profits. Proposals for material extension, large new expenditure, or involving-a change in the Board’s statutory position, shall be referred to the partner Governments.