VISITS TO DOMINIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18814, 15 September 1924, Page 7

VISITS TO DOMINIONS.

EMPIRE DELEGATIONS.

TWO-YEARLY TOURS SCHEME.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S VIEWS.

By Telocraph—Prcsa Association—Copyrijrht. (Received ,5.5' p.m.) Reuter-SuD. CAPETOWN. Sept. 12. The British Secretary for the Colonies, Mr. J. H. Thomas, arrived here this morning from the north. He sailed for England this afternoon. While he was at Blomfontein Mr. Thomas presided over a conference between the visiting delegates of the Empire Parliamentary Association and their colleagues in the South African Parliament. The conference unanimously approved the principle of Parliamentary delegations visiting the various countries of the Empire at least once every two years. Mr. Thomas' proposal that the next meeting should bo in London was received with enthusiasm. It is expected that there will be several further conferences during the remainder of the tour. Discussing the proposed Dominions' Conference in London, Mr. Thomas reaffirmed that resolutions on questions affecting the whole Commonwealth, such as the Indian problem, must be the work of all the parties in the Dominions. The conference, he said, would not abrogate the rights of each Dominion, nor delegate to the Cabinet the responsibility. The conference would explore the whole situation : and advise on means to avoid friction. Mr. Thomas said he considered that South Africa was a good country for settlers with money. There was no hope for unemployed men or manual labonrers. He said he intended to visit the other Dominions, but declined •to say which one he would visit next. Mr. Thomas added that he expected to speak on the Irish question on the day he arrived in England. His secretaries would meet him at Madeira and put him au fait with the most recent developments.