DOMINIONS SECRETARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19765, 12 October 1927, Page 13

DOMINIONS SECRETARY.

MB. AMERY AT ALBANY; AUSTRALIA'S WELCOME. TOUR OF THE EMPIRE. VITAL OBJECTS INVOLVED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received October 11, 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. PERTH, Oct. 11. The Secretary of State for the Dominions, Mr. L. S. Amery, to-day arrived at Albany, Western Australia, by the steamer Ulysses. He was welcomed by Sir Neville Howse, Minister* of Defence, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government, members of the State Government and prominent citizens. In an interview Mr. Amery said the object of his tour of the Dominions is to learn what he can about their conditions and what is still more important, to get to know their people. He said he considered it clearly desirable that every Minister of 1 the British Government should malse an effort to inform himself on the affairs and problems of all parts of the Empire. This particularly applied to the Minister who was specifically charged with the responsibilities of keeping the various aspects of Imperial co-operation before his colleagues. Only in this way could they co-operate most effectively for the mutual benefit of Britain and the Dominions.

Mr. Amery said he realised that a few weeks' touring and the keeping open of his own eyes were likely to prove to be worth years of reading of books or despatches, or even conversing in London with visitors from the Dominions. This had promoted his tour. He said he did not think it right to expect that all the effort and sacrifice of long journeys should be made by Dominion Ministers. It seemed well, where possible, that British Ministers should reciprocate by taking every opportunity of visiting the Dominions. He enlarged upon the importance of being able to discuss direct with tho various Governments current questions and by so doing straightening them out more quickly. In this connection Mr. Amery said he referred particularly to questions of marketing and migration. He was anxious to learn where the British Government could co-operate with the Dominion Governments in stimulating that scientific research which was vital to production nowadays. He hoped to have some talks with settlers so as to learn exactly what their difficulties are, and in this way to make a real success of the immigration movement and secure that continuous, steady flow of migrants which would be best for the Dominions and for Britain.

According to the itinerary of the Australian and New Zealand tour of Mr. Amery he will leave Sydney for Auckland by the Niagara on November 17.