IMPERIAL RELATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19476, 4 November 1926, Page 11

IMPERIAL RELATIONS.

CONFERENCE DISCUSSION.

USEFUL PURPOSE SERVED.

ACTIVITIES OF DELEGATES.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 7.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Nov. 2

The delegates to the Imperial Conference spent this morning at the Air Ministry, thus completing their detailed examination of the naval, military and air defence departments. The general discussion on Imperial defence will be resumed on Thursday.

Committee work occupied the attention of the delegates for the remainder of the day. The Overseas Settlement Sub-Commit-tee paid special attention to migration to Australia. The Research Committee discussed the question of organisation with a view to a closer inter-relation of investigations all over the Empire. The Economic Sub-Committee completed a most comprehensive survey of industrial standardisation. This revealed most significant facts. For instance, that a reduction from several hundreds to 113 categories of iron and steel products will make possible a reduction in the costs of production of 5s a ton.

It was ascertained that £25,000,000 is invested in the wholesale ironmongery trade. Even a moderate degree of simplification and standardisation will liberate one-fifth of the capital at present locked up there.

The present value of Empire stocks of electric lamps is £4,000,000. This might be halved bv standardisation.

The delegates trill attend an afternoon party to be given by His Majesty the King at Buckingham Palace on November 10, and one to bo given by the Primate at Lambeth Palace on November 11. Foreign Relations and Treaties. Some of the more thorny problems of inter-Imperial relations gave the l)egal section of the Earl of Balfour's sub-com-mittee two hours of dose work this afternoon. It endeavoured to find common ground on which the difficulties arising out of the Treaty of Locarno will not recur and in accommodating the various points of view expressed, notably by South Africa, in the amicable debates which had preceded to-day's more close survey of the problems.

It is understood that the main difficulty encountered was to get around treaty technicalities in such a way as to ensure its acceptance by the Dominions after Britain has negotiated a treaty in full consultation with them.

To-day's discussion was not conclusive, but it is described as very valuable in that it produced a mutual appreciation of one another's difficulties , Dominions and Privy Oouncil.

The Prime Ministers at their roundtable discussion of inter-Imperial affairs devoted a good deal of time to Privy Council procednre. It is understood that the question of the representation of the Dominions on the Council was also mentioned.

The range of Imperial subjects brought up was very wide. , No mention was made of the rights and prerogatives of Governors-General, Having secured the man of her choice in succession to Lord Byng, Canada seems to have recovered from her pre-election tenderness.

Ireland, which a month ago talked of the right of direct approach to Downing Street, is also understood to have decided that ilhe mere formality of submitting despatches through the Gover-nor-General, Mr. T. Healy, is not sufficient ground for raising the whole question of the representation of the Crown.

As one representative of the Irish Free State put it: "The i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. We say what we want to say and it gets to No. 10 Downing Street in due time, so really it is not worth making any fuss." No Alteration of tho Status Quo.

Echoes from the conference rooms suggest that Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King (Canada) is not living up to the prophecies which were made prior to his arrival in LondoD, that ho would be one of the most outspoken critics of the existing order of things. Nor is Ireland magnifying her difficulties.

learned that in the discussion on inter-Imperial relations no concrete proposals were made for modifications or alterations of the status que. At any rate none have yet been committed to paj>er in the shape of resolutions. The tendency appears to be toward general declarations, rather than rigid resolutions.

Comment is made on the attention which is being given to economic subjects. There is a strong body of opinion in conference circles supporting the view of Mr. S. M. Bruce (Australia) that once economic problems have been solved most of the others will soon disappear. So far Mr. Bruce has been the most quoted representative of the Dominions in the London press. Empire Trading Posters.

The originals of 25 huge posters, with which the Empire Marketing Board in tends shortly to launch throughout Britain a campaign to advertise Empire goods, ar<e being exhibited at the Royal Academy.

The posters were inspected by Mr. S. M. Bruce (Australia) this morning. The Commonwealth is represented by two studies of a dairy herd and a vineyard. New Zealand views depict sheep-raising aud dairying. The two latter are tolerably distinctive and are accompanied by letter-press, but the Australian posters are not explained. They may appeal to the British public, but Australians will not find them ideal reminders of their homeland. FREEDOM OF CITY. MANCHESTER CONFERMENT. LABOUR M£N to stay away.

Australian and I«.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 2. The Labour members of the Manchester City Council havo decided not to tali! part in the reception to the Dominion Prime Ministers on Friday, when the freedom of the city is to be conferred