IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Hawera Star, Volume L, 31 July 1930, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

CONSTITUTIONAL PROBLEMS.

QUESTION'S ABOVE PARTY. ptmuil press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright;. LONDON, July 29. The Imperial Conference lias to face unprecedented constitutional problems, said Mr Ramsay MacDonald at the annual meeting of the United Kingdom branch of the Empire Parliamentary Association. “We have to make up our minds that there i;s a life change "in the Empire. A:s individuals we cannot live in the past, and must not be over-eager or imagine we are living in the future, hut must combine both. Surely the time has come when we should t hink' and act more as an ‘all party,’ eliminating the conception that when one party is in power no other party exists. As far as unity is concerned, an attempt should he made to get Imperial questions considered in the first place by all parties, remembering that the nations of the Commonwealth are very much greater than party.” Mr J. H. Thomas (Secretary for the Dominions), referring to Mr Baldwin’s likening of British and Dominion relations to those of sons and father, said the opinion of the old man might sometimes he considered. Lie intended to ask whether the time lhad come to consider giving the Old Country Dominion status. (Laughter.) The annual report explained that elections overseas had largely prevented a. delegation going abroad in 1930, while the Imperial naval and Press conferences had prevented a meeting in London.

DOMINIONS’ TARIFFS. QUESTIONS IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. LONDON. July 29. Tn the House of Commons. Mr Potor Macdonald (CA asked a question relating to the New Zealand tariff. Mr G. Mailder (L.) asked Mr W Graham (President of the Board of Trade) if lie* would bring before the Imperial Conference the hostile attitude of flu* Australian Government towards Britain. Mr Graham : T cannot say what will take olace at the Tmuerial Conference.