Mr Lloyd-George's Reply.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 106, 8 May 1907, Page 5

Mr Lloyd-George's Reply.

" Help Us—Not Hinder."

In the course of his reply Mr LloydGeorge said tho results of the Conference just'fmished must be considered in many respect® as being of first-class importance to British trade. The Conference itself was largely a new departure, but he believed its success would justify a repetition of representation. One good thing had resulted: it had enabled them to meet face to face instead of talking thousands of miles away, and thus they had been able to clear up many misunderstandings. Talking across the seas they were liable to imagine difficulties and allow suspicion to take the place of knowledge of each other's true position, but when they sat around one table many things they were apprehensive about they found had no ground for fear at all. Proceeding, he said it was perfectly true that New Zealand and Australia had rights, and these the Imperial authorities conceded before imposing any conditions linked upon their own | coastal trade, but he would ask again, al- ! though he had received an assurance that this would not be done, that local regulations in their severity should not be made to apply disadvantageouly to British ships. The shipping of the Old World had to contend against foreign competition which was growing daily. Although he was glad to say that Britain is still holding her own, they would much like their kinsmen in the southern seas to help and not hinder. Sir Joseph Ward had raised matters of first moment. In the course of his speech

he had referred to two or three questions brought before the Imperial Conference the other day in an extraordinary and able specch, a speech which he could say from his own knowledge, had impressed itself very strongly upon the Imperial delegates and the Imperial Government. Sir Joseph Ward put before them certain suggestions in regard to which the Imperial Government might indicate what they were doing. They ■weie giving them the best consideration at that moment, and it was more than probable that something would be said at the Conference on Monday. He had no right to anticipate what the result would be, but Sir Joseph Ward had raised three practical suggestions and these are now being debated, which he hoped they would be able to give satisfactory answers to before the Colonial Premiers left the city. On certain questions the point of view of the present Government may be different from that of New Zealand and Australia, which they recognised could not be given effect to owing to political exigencies, but they could recognise that other things may b3 done to assist to bring the colonies closer ! to England. He considered tho sugges- ' tions of Sir Joseph Ward worthy of prac- ! tical consideration. Taking Imperial ! communications lie was of opinion that I the subject was purely a business proI posal, and what they had to consider was whether it was the best tiling in the interests of Britain as well as of the Empire as a whole, and upon that condition alone. He agreed with Sir Joseph Ward that it was of the greatest importance that as portions of the Empire were scattered thousands of miles from each other, that they should shorten tho miles of communication. Tho first thing tho Romans did was to make roads. Our roads are across seas, and what Sir Joseph Ward suggests is that our Appian way be improved, and shorten the time from here to New Zealand. It lances us six weeks now, and the suggestion of Sir Joseph Ward, fortified subsequently

by Sir Wilfrid Laurier, is that it can be done in three weeks. This matter was of great importance and did not depend on such political problems as fiscal policy. Then the suggestion in respect to the Suez Canal dues wad an important matter, and he did not see why the Imperial Government could not assist with the) object of reducing rates, thus lightening the burden on ships trading between Australia and New Zealand and the Mother Country. These subjects were being considered and he would be surprised if something was not done to meet the proposals of Sir Joseph Ward. He was sure that if instead of discussing purely debateable matter between the colonies and the Mother Country, as has been done in real earnest round the table, they would, with a view of arriving at a decision, carefully consider such suggestions, and he was satisfied they would net separate without something tangible being done to bring distant parts of the Empire closer to the Homeland and thus make a more united Empire. One way of doing so was by improving trade between • the various parts of the Empire by quicker lines of communication. These things were being considered, and he could affirm that they were considering them with some practical purpose in view. At the conclusion of his address Mr Lloyd-George referred in flattering terms to Mr Mills. Ho said he was the principal of the greatest line of steamers in the Southern Seas, a service favorably known throughout the world, and it was a great pleasure to himself as well as the other Imperial delegates to meet that gentleman for the first time. His experience in shipping matters had been of incalculable service, and he had impressed them all with the knowledge he possessed of subjects under review in the deliberations of the Conference; indeed Mr Mills' remarks were given in a manner which did him honor, and it was difficult for the I representative of the British seamen (Mr Wilson, M.P.) to know whether he (Mr Mills) was really a shipowner or a seaman's representative in view of his impartial and unbiased view on what was good for the shipping world. The good work done by Messrs Belcher and Hislop was favorably commented on, and he personally thanked them for the able manner iu which they also had dealt with subjects before the Conference.