COMMONWEALTH'S ANNIVERSARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8196, 30 January 1907, Page 6

COMMONWEALTH'S ANNIVERSARY.

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Per Press Association. LONDON, Jan. 29. Australian Anniversary Day was celebrated by a banquet, which was held at the Trocadero. One hundred and ninety guests were present, incuding the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Montague Nelson, the Hon. W. P. • Reeves, and many representative merchants, bankers and shipowners. Lord Tennyson, 'who presided, proposed the toast of "The Day We Celebrate." He read messages from Mr A. Deakin and Mr He lit, and each of them was received with applause. Lord Tennyson, in the course of a speech, strongly advocated the immigration of carefully selected British men and-women, who, he said, would greatly strengthen the Commonwealth. He hoped the coming Imperial Conference would consider the question of the establishment of a co-operative system of colonial defence thro ugho lit the Empire, and the organisation of aji Intelligence Committee. He hoped also that the Australasian representatives would submit a carefully considered scheme of preferential tariffs in favour of British commodities, which would lead up to inter-Imperial free trade. Lord Tennyson also further hoped that Sir H. Campbell-JSannerman would open the Conference;, and so show that it was not only colonial but Imperial in character. Sir John Coekburn proposed the toast of the Imperial (iovernment. Lord Elgin, in replying, said the greatest dilliculty in bringing about unity of sentiment between the Governments of the colonies and that of the Motherland was a want of acquaintance with each other. Therefort', he should appreciate nothing better than forming uo acquaintaiice with, the leaders of colonial Parliaments at the Imperial- Conference. Lord Elgin also said that while he. was preparing the programme for that Conference, it was obviously im-

proper for him to express opinions on Lord Tennyson's suggestions. He would, however, cordially welcome Sir H. Campbell-Bamierman's opening of the Conference.

Lord Brassey proposed the toast of ■the Imperial Forces. Admiral Bowden-Smitb and General tlutton replied. The latter advocated the establishment in the Motherland of a militia similar to that of Canada, and the Australias.