PRESS COMMENTS ON THE NEW SECRETARIAT .

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 22 April 1907, Page 2

PRESS COMMENTS ON THE NEW SECRETARIAT .

(Received April 23, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Sunday. The "Financier" newspaper interviewed Mr Deakin relative to the consolidation of State debts. He states that Commonwealth Government would attempt something this year if it can get the States into line. The "Morning Post" declares that the Imperial Secretariat provided by the Colonial Office will be unable to fulfil the purposes of a Secretariat responsible to the Conference itself: An independent Secretariat manned chiefly by nominees of oversea Governments was essential. The "Post" deplores Sir Wilfrid Laurier's strange defection from the cause of an Imperial alliance to that of the bureaucracy. Mr Haldane, Secretary for War, addresed the Conference upon the general principles of Imperial and military organisation, p The Premier expressed general concurrence with tbe principles enunciated. The Conference resolved to recognise the right of any self governing colony to consult The Committee of Imperial Defence upon any matter relating to its own protection, and to be represented during the discussion of that question in order to explain the local position, and the grounds on which the Committee s advice was sought. This relates solely to questions affecting naval and military policy. The question of exchange of officers was also discussed and favourably viewed.