NEW ZEALAND DINNER

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1745, 16 August 1905, Page 69

NEW ZEALAND DINNER

MR, LYTTELTON ON IDEALS OF

EMPIRE.

(Prom Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON. June 30. The ninth annual New Zealand dinner was held on Wednesday evening of this week at Princes Restaurant, Piccadilly. The Hon W. P. Peeves High Commissioner for* New Zealand, presided, wrtn the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton K.C. M.P., the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on his right. Amongst those preeentwere Lord Ranfurly, Sir Walter Duller, Sir Montague Nelson, Admiral Fremantle, Sir Montague Ommaney, Sir VVestby Perceval, Lieutenant-Colonel Montague Cradock, Colonel Denny, M.P. Mr John Roberts, Mr W. H. Savill, Mr C . G. Tegetmeier, Mr R. M. Turnbull, Hon Chas Hill Trevor, Major Dudley Alexander, Mr Walter Kennaway, Dr P. A. Lindsay, Dr B. W. Aubin. Mr G. Beetham Mr Aitken Garrick. Mr A. Le Cren, Mr £>. J. Nathan, Mr C. B. Pharazyn, Mr A. W. Pottinger, Captain Ward, Rev H. W. Williams, Mr R. H Rhodes and others. Altogether about 200 sat down to dinner.

Mr Lyttelton proposed. “The Colony of New Zealand," coupled with the name of the Hon. W. P. Reeves. The Colonial Secretary said that since he was a very small boy New Zealand had been a very familiar topic in his father's house, he having been one of the chief promoters of the Canterbury settlement. When tne map of the globe was very unfamiliar to him as a whole, it gave him a startling sense of intimacy to see the name of Lyttelton there, and what was more, to see it spelt right. (Laughter.) The Canterbury settlers showed on many occasions very great gratitude to his father for the work he had done in association with men so honoured in the colony as Mr Godley and Mr Fitzgerald. (Applause.) Touching lightly on New Zealand's advanced legislation, Mr Lyttelton said: —“There are those who have not got a very vast belief in the powers of legislation, and there are those who have great faith in the powers of legislation. The history, of the legislation of New Zealand may console thq apostle© of both faiths. (Laughter.) We have had what an3*body, looking from outside, would, I believe, consider one of the most colossal revolutions, might I say —but scarcely revolutions —one of the most colossal enterprises, full of change, in the history of New Zealand. We have had the introduction of woman's suffrage, But notwithstanding what those who believe in legislation and its efficacy freely prophesied, I am credibly ihformed that numerous homes have not been broken np —(laughter)—that liquor is still publicly sold —(renewed laughter)—that members of Parliament are still of the masculine sex, and that the new voters still retain the graciousness and charm which we identify with New Zealand; and I believe that their most formidable critics' still admit that they take an adequate interest in clothes. (More laughter.) So much for the sceptics about legislative reform. On the other hand, those who believe in the power and efficacy of legislation as applied, to the State have their consolations also. They have seen —but I, must not enter into any detail—they have seen legislation dealing with industrial affairs which I believe has in its results not merely reflected-the highest honour, upon, your chairman, but which has even; in the opinion of moderate politicians, been a. very great success.' (Cheers.) Mr Lyttelton went on to say that it had been one of his ambitions at the Colonial-Office to endeavour to- render the periodical conferences between Great Britain and the self-governing colonies more regulated and more prepared, for than before. This task was now the subject of correspondence with the Governinents of all the self-governing colonies. Such conferences, if the self-governing colonies came freely to them and instructed their representatives beforehand to discuss; points of difficulty at leisure, must lead ter the greatest possible good. They would teach us all not to endeavour to dictate to one another, not to say that' the ideal of this country was that something should be done, and therefore all other countries must accept it. The conferences were teaching us, if we had not learned it already, that there were vast differences between the States of the Empire, vast differences of climate, of opportunity, of population, and in native races; They might all have their ideal; and it was thoroughly legitimate for all of them to impress that ideal throughout' the whole Etmpire: but they might-' be certain that that ideal could not' be attained very rigidly. Having done everything they could by way of persuasion, they should hesitate lest they did mischief by attempting to dictate. That less-on had to be learned just as

much by the Mother Country in relation to the colonies as by the colonies m relation to the Motherland and among themselves. The chairman took np, with the assent of the whole of the country of New Zealand, the high duties which attached to the office of High Commissioner, and for which he was by .nature and training so well adapted. He hacl been invested with that dignity, New Zealand natui*ally feeling that she had advanced well into that stage in which she could claim equality with any one ot the self-governing colonies. (Applause.)

The High Commissioner, responding to the toast, remarked that for the whole period that elapsed since tho dinner was first inaugurated New. Zealand had been blessed with prosperity, and those interested in the colony had no reason to fear a set-back." When he was asked whether the present state of things was likely to be permanent, he always adverted to one central fact—the occupation of the soil—the breaking in of the wilderness and the increase of the production of national wealth. About fourteen years ago the extent of land in occupation by white settlers in New Zealand was estimated at about 32,000,000 acres, and to-day it was about 37,000,000 acres. Blimating the area occupied by the pastoral tenants of the Crown, and coming to the more permanent forms of tenure, and the closer kinds of settlement, the advance was not 5,000,000, but 8,000,000 acres. The increase of trade and wealth, the growth of manufactures, the raising of the standard of comfort in a young country might all be deduced from" that great central fact—the progress in the occupation of the development of the soil. Granted reasonable prudence on the part of the colonial Government and Legislature, he saw no reason why New Zealand should not be prosperous for many year©. Dealing with the question of the devising of machinery which would enable the self-govern-ing parts of the Empire to take friendly counsel together, he said, speaking as the representative of a colonial Government, that it was necessary to bear in mind the natural sensitiveness of the Legislatures of the self-governing parts of the Empire. During the last ten years he had watched the system under which the affairs of the Empire were carried on, ’and was of opinion that a new class of questions was coming to the front. He referred to an important set of problems not dealing simply with the internal affairs of a self-governing part of the Empire or with the relations of the Empire a© a whole to the various foreign nations of the world, but dealing with the relations between one part of the Empire and another part. He thought that that class of question demanded fresh machinery for consideration and friendly settlement. The New Zealand Government was watching the question with as much interest as any one, and would be ready, he felt sure, to consider any reasonable proposal.

Mr Reeves went on to thank the Colonial Secretary for his kindly reference to his new appointment, and wound up an able speech in reminiscent strain. “It is nearly fifteen years," he said “since on a certain day in January, 1891, I was sworn in a member of the-New Zealand Executive, and since that day my strength, such a© it is, and my intelligence, such as it may be, have" been devoted to the service of New Zealand. (Cheers.) I wish the strength had been greater, and some critics have said as nruch about the intelligence. (Laughter.) But this I will say—-that such a© they are they have been without stint and ‘without hesitation at the service of my countrymen-—(cheers)—and it has been more gratifying than I can express to you to feel that public opinion through the newspapers of the colony has within the last few weeks referred to me a© kindly as it ha©. There was a time, gentlemen, when the remarks of the New Zealand press about your humble servant were not an unmixed compliment. (Laughter.) There were days when an outspoken and patriotic press used to liken me to Cassius, Robespierre, lago, and other undesirable aliens. (Great Laughter.) But, of course, time brings many changes. A great deal of wind ha© blown through Cook Strait since those • days. . I daresay I have learned a little of the wisdom which I possibly lacked fifteen year© ago, and my friends the editors —the able editors —of the New Zealand pres© have, I daresay, in some cases come to the conclusion that even the darkest of us are not quite as black as we are sometimes painted. (Laughter.) I need hardly say that during such time a© I may remain the servant of New Zealand my very best beet and most loyal efforts will be devoted to that service. (Cheers.) If a democracy only knew how gratifying and delightful to its servants are a few kind words frankly expressed, I think a democracy through its press might not hesitate as mneh as it does to ; encourage a public servant in the doing of his duty. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, you have been kind in listening to me for a longer time than

I meant troubling you. Allow me to thank you. not only for the way in which you have honoured the toast of our country, but for the personal 'courtesy which you have extended to my unworthy' ©elf." (Loud cheers.) Sir \Vestby Perceval, ex-AgenßGeneral of New Zealand, proposed the toast of the Imperial Forces, and Admiral Fremantle and Lieutenant-Colonel Cradock responded. “ The Guests" was proposed by Sir Montague Nelson, Sir Montague Ommaney replying, and Mr W. H. James, K.G., Agent-General for West Australia, in a humorous speech proposed the health of the chairman, to which Mr Reeves responded in his happiest vein.