THE EMPIRE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15333, 16 June 1910, Page 7

THE EMPIRE.

DISCUSSION BY THE COLONIAL INSTITUTE. United Preps Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. (Received June IG, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, Juno 15Mr L. C. Amcry, addressing the Colonial Institute, said that a system of Imperial Government based on tho supremacy of the United Kingdom could not last. A single foreign defence policy, with o single responsible administration, was essential. It was impossible to utilise tho existing Parliament for the formation of an Imperial Assembly, as it would bo contrary to the principle of equality of political status upon which tho dominions would insist as a condition of any form of union. Tho Imperial Conference was a possible nucleus of an Imperial Parliament. The supremo importance of tho conference as tho highest assembly should be recognised by vesting the King with the formal presidency. If each dominion Cabinet included a special Minister for Imperial external affairs the conference might meet annually. It would not hccomo a true Imperial Parliament until a definite Constitutional -Act placed Imperial administration under its control and its resolutions bound tho whole Empire. The Hon W. P. Reeves advocated tho representatives of tho dominions in London having tho right of speech in the House of Commons or tho House of Lords. Lord Milner emphasised the apparent reaction after the groat demonstration of the spirit of co-operation manifested m the South African war. A great opportunity had been lost when South African affairs were allowed to relapse into merely colonial, by being handled by the British Parliament.