MR. CHURCHILL ON AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13191, 31 May 1906, Page 5

MR. CHURCHILL ON AUSTRALIA.

FEDERATION A GLORIOUS EVENT. - ' LABOUR ARMY'S REARGUARD. -— . . 'it THE COLONIAL CONFERENCE. By Telesraph.—Press AssociationCopyrisht. (Received May 31, 1.5 a.m.) London; May 30. The annual West Australian dinner . was held last night. The retiring 1 Agent-General (Mr. Walter James) presided, and the High Commis- , sioner for New Zealand was present. The Under-Secretary for the Colonies (Mr. Winston Churchill) proposed tile toast of*"*' The Commonwealth." .He said that although every expectation had not been fulfilled by it, Federation had been a great and glorious event for one generation to achieve. The present generation would reap solid advantages, and future generations would look back upon it with reverence and enthusiasm. Australia's development had been grand, but differ- , ent from that of any other comniun'ity in the world. Sometimes, when he saw a population of millions treading the slush of great cities, forgotten and famished; he thought of ; the vast expanses of territory in the 'Empire. He considered that Australia was wise in following coilectivist rather than competitive ideals, and in .watching, with care the fortunes of the rearguard and the weaker portions of the army of labour and industry. (Cheers.) He complimented West Australia on her progress, and eulogised Sir John Forrest's public work. He was sure, he said, that in every part of the United Kingdom there was a great feeling of interest in and goodwill for the Commonwealth. All were looking forward to the conference as an occasion that would revive and express a strong and growing feeling of sympathy and agreement within the Empire. The conference would be free and < unfettered, and there would be practical and friendly discussion. It would have only one object—to develop everything for promoting the larger unity of the Empire and for eliminating anything likely to prove harmful. The programme of the conference would include a dozen subjects, bearing on law, strategy, trade, communication, -education, and science, and any other worthy of consideration of the collective intelligence and the combined discus- ' sion of the Empire's representatives. He hoped that intercolonial preference would be discussed. It would be easy for two protective tariff States to make a reciprocal adjustment, and an infinitely smaller thing for them to make such an adjustment mutually than for a country possessed of a totally different fiscal system to consider any alteration of its system. ; All intercolonial adjustments that rrijght be F made and all reciprocal treaties such as were being discussed, as he knew from his daily work, between the various colonies must . be steps in, the direction of that " universal Imperial trade which undoubtedly it is our object ultimately to achieve:" (Cheers.) The British navy was strong enough to give practical security to Australia, but that was not enough. Australia must find that the development of a national citizen volunteer army was the real and only guarantee which a strong nation should accept for its honour and existence. He advised Australians not to identify themselves with any one party in the Motherland, but to look at the institutions above the flow of party politics. Great Britain's traditions and achievements in the fields of war and of learning belonged to Australia as well as to the Motherland. The ( Government desired to bring about and maintain friendly relations with the colonies. The Government had . a great work to do, and what could be more foolish and idiotic than for it to go out of its. way to give offence to the colonies. It was natural for the Liberals to look with interest and affection on the pioneers of social experiments on lines more progressive than ours. The Government wished to do its duty by the colonies to do what was fair and right. He asked for recognition of the honesty of its motives and a generous interpretation of its words and actions. \ Mr. Chapman (the Federal Post-master-General), replying for Australia, said she did not need an apolok. gist. The Commonwealth had never \ looked more prosperous from end to ( . end. Whenever the note of danger .. to the Empire sounded, Australia 1 would give but one response. . Sir John Madden (Chief Justice of Victoria) also replied. He said there was no need to fear the policy of the Labour party. A large proportion of the parly held a large stake ' in the country, hence they would cast their votes in favour of prudence. Should England ever want aid every Australian ploughshare would be a sword for England. Sir Joseph Ward proposed the toast of " West Australia," He asked Mr. Churchill to visit the colonies. He expressed the hope thai ' the conference would, consider the " question of establishing an Imperial l Council. J Mr. Kirwan, of West Australia, re- , plied.