THE IMPERIAL TASK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18530, 15 October 1923, Page 7

THE IMPERIAL TASK.

HIGH-HEARTED LEADERS. FAITH TO TAKE RISKS. NEW FREEMEN OF LONDON. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright A. and N.Z. LONDON. Oct. 12. With time-honoured ceremonial Mr. Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, and Mr. S. M: Bruce, Prime Minister of Australia, were presented with the Freedom of the City of London in the historic Guildhall. There was a throng of distinguished people, including the Duke and Duchess of York, the Duke of Devonshire, the Marquis of Salisbury, the, Earl of Derby, and practically the entire Cabinet, the majority of members and advisers of both the ImperiaL and Economic Conferences, and many Dominion visitors. Responding to the presentation, Mr. Baldwin said ho regarded it as a good omen that he and his colleagues stood on that platform, all three inexperienced; but inexperience gave men faith to take risks, which must be taken these days. Referring to unemployment, Mr. Baldwin declared that tho moment when it must take years for old markets to recover was the moment for the Old World to call in the New* World to develop a fairer inheritance than either had yet enjoyed. "I am convinced that with the enthusiasm and ability of tho members of the conferences," he said, "some solution will be found for the grave problems besetting us, and that the Imperial Conference will not rise from, its labours before accomplishing something for the permanent good of our own people and mankind generally." Mr. Mackenzie King emphasised that the Freedom of London was linked by an unbroken tradition with the freedom of the British nations expressed by the Imperial Conferences. ' Mr. Bruce was accorded r a remarkable ovation. He recalled the intimate relation between London and the overseas Dominions throughout the history of British colonisation. A luncheon in honour of the new freemen followed. Mr. Brace's Optimism. Mr. Baldwin, responding to his health, recalled with pride the financial stability of the City of London in war time, and pointed out that that position could only be maintained if the large industrial population in the country had work. While other countries also suffered derangement„of markets, Britain, owing to the circumstances of her case, suffered most. The time had not come for him to enter into details as to what he believed it possible to do to provide that in future years Britain would not suffer as she was now suffering. He urged the necessity of pushing on the development of the Empire with the utmost celerity and ardour. He was confident that in that direction alone lay tho hope of the future for Britain and her crowded masses of population. Mr. Bruce, responding, said that Britain's position in the world had been based on the Empire's trade. She could not continue to be heard in the councils of the world, or maintain her prominent position in the world, or continue her influence with other nations by her foreign policy unless she could maintain her trade position, which depended upon tho solution of problems which the Economic Conference was considering. " , ,' . That was why he classed the Economic Conference as more important than the Imperial Conference, Ho believed a solution of the present troubles would be found. The Empire's position seemed imperilled, but the British peoples had faced such situations before and they would face them again in the future. Problems had geen solved in tho past, i They would be solved to-day. (Cheers.) The solution lay in tho will to do and the ; courage to achieve. (Continued cheers.) . :v-r- ", t ' Courage of ■ People Everything. The courage. of the peoplo was everything. There never was a time when Britons should bo prouder of their race than after the war. • There- was to-day as fine a generation as the Empire had ever seen. (Cheers.) Many people wondered 'whether the people of the Dominions would bo prepared to stand up for the: Empire in the hour of need. The war supplied the answer and showed that the Empire had people who could face' any situation with courage. But to achieve great ; things there must bo leadership. ■ It was to men of responsibility that London • must look for help, leadership, and 'assistance. I ::'■';■■: There was also the problem of finding a market for the produce of the Empire. It sounded the simplest thing to do, but it was difficult beyond words to achieve. If the Economic Conference could find a way out of that problem it would ensure the welfare of the Empire for all time. If Australia could only, obtain a market in Britain she could go ahead developing her country and at the same time developing a market' for British manufactures. Mr. Bruce concluded by saying that ho believed ■ a solution of the market : problem would benefit both Britain and tho Dominions, 1 and would give' Britain a commercial position unrivalled by any nation on tho face of the earth. That was tho. great ; problem the Economic Conference was trying to solve. London, and Britain itself, must be prepared to make the same sacrifices of interests for the peace and prosperity of the Empire that the East Enders of : his regiment had been prepared to make in the war. The Empire was in as great danger now as during the war. v ,<» The luncheon was a ; brilliant gathering, at which there were over 300 guests.