SIR GEORGE REID.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15256, 17 March 1910, Page 7

SIR GEORGE REID.

BANQUETED BY THE COLONIAL

INSTITUTE

A BRILLIANT ASSEMBLY. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, March 15

At a banquet given by the Royal Colonial Institute in honour of Sir G. 11. Raid, two hundred and seventyeight guests were present. It was a brilliant and representative gathering, and amongst those present were Lord Rosebcry, Lord Bcauehamp, Lord Strathcona and Lord Ranfurly, 'Sir H. Rawson, Sir T. Fowell Buxton, Mr Sydney Buxton, Sir R. A. J. Talbot, formerly Governor of Victoria, Admiral Sir F. G. Bedford, tho Hon N. J. Moore, Premier of Y/estern Australia, Mr Herbert Samuel, Admiral Sir N. Bowden-Smith, General Hutton, tho Agents-General of the colonies, RearAdmiral Lucas and Vice-Admiral Pear-

Lord Crewe, who presided, proposed Sir Goorgo Reid's health and welcomed him as a statesman of long and varied experience, a skilful and accomplished orator, and a thorough man of affairs. Sir G. H. Reid, who mot with a most enthusiastic reception, replied in a brilliant speech. He said he thought it his duty to put aside private sorrow to obey tho call of public ditty, and thanked Lord Crewe for tho honour done him by presiding.

(Received March 16, 10.30 p.m.)

LONDON, March 16

Lord Crewe, speaking at the Reid banquot, said that the duties of tho Agents-General had in nowiso been trenched upon by Sir George Reid's arrival. Ho thought that the comparison of Commissioner and Agents-Gene-ral to Ambassadors was singularly infelicitous. Ho preferred to regard them as Imperial statesmen, whose duties wero partly to look after the part of the Empire which they represented, but tboy were also ablo to give opinions in many Imperial problems without party trammels. Ho thought it unlikely that the present arrangements by which tho Secretary for the Colonies looked after tho business connected with the oversea dominions and Crown colonies would bo permanent. Separation of the duties was probable within the near future. The idea of an Imperial Council could best be promoted by taking the oversea dominions into conference, and whenever the interests of the dominions were concerned with any diplomatic problem, placing tho utmost confidence in the statesmen of tho dominions.

Sir George Reid, in replying, recalled the rich stream of emigration to tho Australian goldfields. They now saw in the rising greatness of Australia, in the rapidly increasing strength of industries and the growing volume of trade, the magnificent dividends which Australia was rendaring under British colonisation The Australian system of Gowjtfament represented perhaps tho largest measure of trust in the people and freedom for the community that to-dcy was visible on the world's face. Tbs task of developing tho Commonwealth was just as much an Imperial task as tho settling of Home political difficulties, and a task which excited no party difficulties. Tho Imperial and colonial Governments could unite in using the 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. In considering them, statesmen had a most anxious task, that of reconciling the free play of self-interest with enlightened regard for the Empire's welfare. Mentioning, amid cheers, Australia's voluntary preference to the Motherland, Sir George Reid remarked ' that he was bound to add that there was in Australia a strong desire to go further and reach a reciprocal arrangement—(cheers) —but that desire would never, as far as ho could see, get the length of sacrificing their own growing manufactures.