OVERSEAS DELEGATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16285, 19 July 1916, Page 8

OVERSEAS DELEGATES.

LONDON GATHERINGS.

SPEECH BY SIR J. CARROLL.

- NEED FOR CLOSER UNION.

LONDON. July 6.

The Overseas High Commissioners entertained the visiting members of Parliament at a dinner last night at Claridge's. Sir G. H. Perley, Canada, Mr. W. P. Schreiner, South Africa, and Sir Thomas Mackenzie, New Zealand, welcomed the guests. Mr. Fisher was absent at Plymouth awaiting the arrival of the Australians.

Mr. Bonar Law. Secretary of State for the Colonies, proposing the toast of ''The Visitors," frequently paid tributes to the magnificent efforts of the Dominions. He was glad of the opportunity to say that never in the Empire's history had the Mother Country done so well. "The Germans," he said, regarded us as a decadent nation, but our early ' contemptible little army' had helped to stem the German advance, and largely assisted in saving Paris. We have heard more of the doings of the Dominion soldiers than the soldiers of the United Kingdom; but it has not caused a trace of jealousy. We can trust the soldiers. They will not fail. A great responsibility rests on those remaining at home. British people have shown generous patriotism. It was said we could not approach the workingclasses except through their pockets. I never believed that. They have given freely of their best.

"When compulsion was considered necessary we threw in our whole strength. The bravery of our troops will see the struggle to the end. The General Staff is satisfied with the results so far. lam confident that the same policy which has built up the Empire slowly will be equally successful on the battlefield. Our staying power is increasing monthly." The Lord Mayor entertained the representatives of the Overseas Parliaments at dinner in the Mansion House to-night. The Australians arrived at Paddington during the evening, and went straight to the Mansion House. There were 300 guests, including Lord Milner, Lord Burnham, Lord Emmott, Lord Islington, Lord Desborough, Lord Stamfordham, Lord Sandhurst, Lord Blyth, the Earl of Beauchamp, the Marquis of Lincolnshire, and Lord Sydenham. The Lord Mayor proposed the toast of "The Visitors." He said that although it was strictly a business visit it was appropriate the city should extend a welcome.

Among the speakers was Sir Jam« Carroll, New Zealand, who said: "The Overseas Dominions have only performed their duty at the Mother's cry. The Dominion soldiers were thirsting to be on the battlefields, with you. We come here to submit the views of the Dominions and to ask yon to work together with us to study the possibilities of closer union, better trade relations, and to improve the social fabric. We hope before we leave to come to an understanding towards the co-ordination of the component parts of the Empire, otherwise our visit will be valueless." (Cheers.)