EMPIRE UNION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7445, 20 May 1911, Page 5

EMPIRE UNION

SIR J. WARD’S PROPOSAL SUPPORTED BY COLONIAL INSTITUTE DEPUTATION. By Telegraph—Press Association--Copyright LONDON, May 18. A deputation from tho Royal Colonial Institute waited upon Mr Asquith. Prime Minister, and urged that he should give las support to tho suggestions for closer constitutional union of the Empire, which would be discussed, on Sir Joseph Ward’s initiative, at tho Imperial Conference. It was also urged by the deputation that tho Government should officially recognise tho many private voluntary societies engaged in forwarding emigration by constituting an official committee, including representatives of the societies and of the Government departments concerned. Mr Asquith gave a sympathetic reply, and expressed appreciation of tho institute’s work. Ho promised carefully to consider tho points raised. ME FISHER’S IDEALS LABOUR MINISTERS AND IMPERIAL QUESTIONS. LONDON, May 18. Tho “Pall Mall Gazette” (Unionist), in complimenting Sir George Reid on yesterday’s striking reception to the Australian delegates, says : “As Labour Ministers, Messrs Fisher, Batchelor, and Pearce enlist the curiosity and interest of all politicians. What strikes one about Mr Fisher and his colleagues is tho ingenuousness with which they approach the biggest international problems. Mr Fisher’s high ideals of a bond of Empire are with him but an indication of a larger bond of amity among English-speaking nations. This is an admirable sentiment, though it does not obliterate one’s consciousness of the intervening difficulties. But yesterday’s sentiments are pregnant of aid to tho Imperial idea.” . SECRETARIAT READJUSTMENT. The “ Daily Nows ’" (Liberal), after cursorily dismissing Sir Joseph Ward’s Imperial Council proposals, remarks’: “ Whatever reorganisation tho conference may effect, there will bo a modest readjustment of the Imperial Secretariat and the Colonial Office, with possibly some more definite approach to the establishment of an Imperial Court of Appeal. This would not ha magnificent, but it would be practical statesmanship.” ,