A GREAT IDEAL!

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3593, 5 August 1912, Page 5

A GREAT IDEAL!

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE FOR THE EMPIRE.

GO-OPERATION IN WAR TIME AND IN PEACE. MR. BQNAR LAW OUTLINES UNIONIST POLICY. CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER’S SUPPORT ASSURED,, BIG DOMINION’S DECISION TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY. [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT) (Received August 4, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 3. Mr Bonar Law (Leader of the Unionists), at the Carlton Club, proposing the health of the Canadian guests, said that the Motherland’s guests had shared in tlie Defence Committee’s deliberations. They were all well aware that the situation was serious, but pressure from without tended to weld the parts of the Empire closer. Germany’s growth during the last generation in population, wealth and power, when contrasted with the United Kingdom’s, showed that if we had relied on the resources of these Islands alone the time would soon come when it would lie impossible to bear the burden of the supreme Navy which was necessary to the national existence ; but the Empire contained far greater resources than any other! There must he co-operation with tlie Empire both at war time and in peace. Therefore the Unionists advocated Imperial Preference. That was, unfortunately, a party question in the Motherland, but not so in Canada and tlie other self-governing Dominions. Every premier of those dominions representing all parties at the conferences, . had urged the Motherland to adopt a principle enabling one portion of the Empire to treat another portion on better terms than it treated the rest cf the world. The bulk of the people in the Motherland looked for an Imperial Parliament to share the responsibility and glory of governing the Empire, and that ideal was not far distant.

Mr Borden (Canadian Premier), responding, said that the Dominions were prepared to share the work of securely binding the Empire, and thus to preserve a great force in the cause of humanity, justice anti peace throughout the world. Canada was jealous of her own fiscal independence, and did not presume to interfere or make suggestions as to the domestic fiscal questions of any concrete part of the Empire, but subject to that qualification they had always held in ideal commercial co-operation with all parts of the Empire. His colleagues and himself hoped shortly to announce the result of the deliberations strengthening the Empire by the advancement of Mr Bonar Law’s great ideal—organisation.

ALL EYES ON CANADA-

WHAT WILL SHE DO?

BRITISH POLITICIANS TO VISIT THE DOMINION DURING RECESS.

(Received August 4, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 3

Mr Asquith will he unable to visit Canada, and Mr Harcourt (Secretary of State for the Colonies), and Colonel Seely (Minister for War), have been invited, and numerous Members of tho House of Commons will unofficially visit Canada during the recess in connection with the Navy question. Sir David Graaf (South African Minister for Public "Works), interviewed prior to his return to South Africa, said that he had no doubt that South Africa’s Naval contribution would bo increased.

Tho “Spectator” suggests a large Navy loan under tho joint guarantee of Britain and the Dominions.