OVERSEAS VISITORS ENTERTAINED.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLV, 19 June 1911, Page 5

OVERSEAS VISITORS ENTERTAINED.

BANQUETS AND DISTINGUISHED GATHERINGS. FINE ADDRESS BY .MR. BALFOUR. All?. FISHER AND THE OX FORD DEGREE. (Received- June 19, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON. Smidiav. Mr Balfour. Leader -of the Opposition, prc'siding- at a luncheon of the Cons' i-tutiona-1 Club in honour of the overseas Premiers, said l he rejoiced that the latter should honour the club. The Premiers themselves were party politicians, and knew that- the party system wsa ■es.-enijal to tho working of the free institutions of representative government. Therefore all were aware that the party system was not inconsistent- with national unity. The club welcomed' them to a party gathering, as that, was in no party spirit; but recognising that their business here could be conducted only through the Governments of the countries for the timebein.g-. Their visit couiesraed the development of the greatest experiment ever ma,do in. the government of man. The time might come when the great- growing dominions would feel it preferable to go their own warlike the adults of a. family. That might happen, and' the worldly wise would say that it was probable; yet ho thought there was a higher and l a. better way. aind he dreamed ot-hev dreams for the future. He thought that, as they more thoroughly realised) in, every 'community of tho Empire that each was to manage its own affairs, carry out its own life, and' make its own experiments as a political atom, it would bo upon that solid basis that they would build up something the world had never seen—a coalition of free self-governing communities conscious that they were, never more masters of their own fate than when, recognising that they were parts of a great whole. He saw the beginnings to-day whereof posterity would «e the full fruition. Such conferences as those now proceeding would help towards the realisation of ideals, and of a cause where for the visitors wore labouring. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, responding, said that Canadians had hoisted to the topmast the policy of British preference, there to stay. Reciprocity with the United States would! not- involve the slightest d.ainger to the Motherland's interests. Whatever privileges were granted' to others would be ir-iv-eu equally to Britain.

The British Empire League and' the Science Guild' banquet-ted the oversea visitors at the Savoy. The Duke of Devonshire presided, and 300 were present-. Dr. T. H. Warren, President of Magdaveni College, Oxford, referred to Mr Fisher's refusal to accept the Oxford LL.D. degree, <and said he thought that the sentiment of Robert- Burns was right-, yet the -guinea stamp was not to bo despised. Mr Fisher replied- that it wa.s not on account of false modesty that he had refused, but because of youth and 1 other disabilities he had asked to be excused from the honour. Mr Fisher added that the Imperial Conference had already been fruitful of good results. The British Government had invited the delegates to its very' fireside, and asked them to come right inside and learn what it was intended- to do for the protection of all 1 parts of the Empire. He added that the Australia-ill Government would give the establishmeilt of a solar observatory cordial and favourable c ousidera-t ion.

COLONIAL JOURNALISTS IN LONDON. AN EMPTRE PRESS UNION BANQUET. (Received 1 June 19, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, Sunday. The Kmpire Press Union bauquetted oversea journalists. Lord Burn ham presided. Lord Curzon, in proposing the toast of the guests, said he believed that the Imperial idea was progressing, and scattered units were drawing closer to each other. Sir Joseph Ward, who had puit forward with intrepid brevity proposals which were not accepted, had informed him that the Imperial Gun ference had marked a .great advance. Mr fieoifroy Fairfax ("Sydnoy Morn ing Hera'.d,") responded. TEC H N.l OA L ST 11D EN TS.

ADVICE FROM Sill JOSEPH WARD. ! (ReceiveJ 1 Juiio 19. 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, Sirncky. Sir .1. Ward, at. a mcct.insc of British atid Colonial technical sliuum.Us at the val of Empire, coingiratu'ale-d the.'orga.nisa(ion on having 160,000 student throughout. t-lio" world. Ho said' he would follow the example of t/he Australian J. Jost-

master-General, urging oflicia.lis of the Department- in New Zealand to join the organisation. The Imperial Conference, lie added, would be g'lad to receive assistance in any movement similar - to this in assisting the dissemination of Imperial ideas, while probably not- agreeing with details. He hoped that the leaders, of the organisation would impress on correspondents the all-important consideration of technical knowledge in view of developments where countries like Britain had a world-wide navy for the protection of various parts of the Empire. THE P All- LIA .M EN T AI! Y GUESTS. 50 AT THE WALDORF. (Received June 19. 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, Sunday.

Fifty oversea Parliamentarians with their wives and daughters are staying at tile Waldorf Hotel as the guests of British Parliament ar i a n.s.