COLONIES AND EMPIRE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7079, 17 March 1910, Page 7

COLONIES AND EMPIRE

PRACTICAL PARTNERSHIP SUGGESTIONS BY COLONIAL SECRETARY. SPEECH BY SIR G. REID. 9y Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright LONOON, March 15. A banquet was tendered Sir George j Reid, Australian High Commissioner, by tho Royal Colonial Institute. There j were 278 guests, tho gathering being a brilliant and representative one. I The Earl of Crewe, Secretary of State for tho Colonies, presided, and in proposing Sir George Reid's health, welcomed him as a statesman of long and varied experience, a skilful, accomplished, orator, and a thorough man of affairs. Sir George Reid, who was given an enthusiastic reception, made a brilliant speech. Ho said he thought it his duty to put aside private sorrow in order to obey the call of public duty. He thanked Lord Crewe for tho honour done him by presiding at the banquet. DIVIDING WORK OF COLONIAL OFFICE. AN IMPERIAL COUNCIL. (Received March 16, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 16. In the course of his speech at the banquet to Sir George Reid, Lord Crewe said the duties of the Austra-, lian Agents-General would be in nowise trenched upon by Sir George Reid's arrival. He thought the comparison of Commissioner and Agents to Ambassadors was singularly infelicitous; he preferred to regard them as Imperial statesmen, whose duties were partly to look after tho portions of the -Empire which they represent. They were also able to give opinions on many Imperial problems without party trammels. . A CHANGE IMMINENT. Lord Crewe thought it unlikely that the present arrangements under which the Secretary of State for the colonies looked after the business connected with the oversea Dominions and the Crown colonies would be permanent. A separation of the duties was probable in tho near future. The idea 'of an Imperial Council could best be promoted by taking the oversea Dominions into a conference, and, whenever the interests of the Dominions were concerned with any diplomatic problem, placing the utmost confidence in the statesmen of those Dominions. AUSTRALIA'S EXAMPLE. Sir George Reid, in replying to the toast of his health, recalled memories of the rich stream of. emigration to the Australian goldfields. "We now see in the rising greatness of Australia," he said, " in rapidly increasing strength of her industrial enterprises and the growing volume of her trade, the magnificent dividends which Australia is rendering under British colonisation and enterprise. The Australian system of government represents perhaps the largest measure of trust in. the people and freedom for' the community that to-day is visible on the world's face.' The task of developing the Commonwealth is just as much an Imperial task as the settling of Home political difficulties, and it is a task which excites no party difficulties. STRENGTHENING THE TIES. "The Imperial and colonial Governments can unite in using their utmost influence to secure suitable British emigrants for the Empire's Dominions. Many suggestions are being made for adding to the strength of the ties of undoubted affection now existing. In considering them the statesmen's most anxious task would be that of reconciling free play and self-interest, with an enlightened regard for the Empire's welfare." PREFERENCE. In mentioning, amid cheers, Australia's voluntary preference for the Motherland, Sir George Reid remarked that he was bound to add that there was in Australia a strong desire to go further, and reach a reciprocal arrangement—(cheers)—but that desire held never, so far as he could see, got the length of sacrificing Australia's own growing manufactures.