IMPERIAL CONGRESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7447, 23 May 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONGRESS

PERSONALITIES DISCUSSED NO GREAT EXPERIMENTAL STEP EXPECTED. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received May 23, 0.15 a.m.) LONDON, May 22. The “ Daily Telegraph,” in a leading article on a retrospect and the personalities of delegates at past and'present Imperial Conferences, says: “Sir Wilfrid Laurier will renew friendship with and find Sir Joseph Ward still speaking manfully and sturdily for the smallest, but perhaps the -most enthusiastic and intensely British, of all the dominions. Then there is General Botha, representing United South Africa. Air Fisher is a newcomer, and because he is new, and the head of a Labour party which won such a sweeping victory at the last elections, there will he great curiosity to see how he ranges himself among his brother Premiers. But it is certain his Imperialism is no less sincere than Air Deakin’s, even if his methods ore different.” After mentioning Newfoundland, the “ Telegraph ” adds : “ All the members of the Conference are equally welcome to the people of the Motherland. They come eager .to do their best for their young nationalities and for the Empire alike; but everything points to the prospect that no great experiments will be tried and that the Imperial framework will remain much the same after the Conference as it is now. Full and free discussion of Sir Joseph Ward’s and the other dominions’ proposals should, however, be most informative, enabling us to judge the prospects of early or ultimate agreement on great problems. It is encouraging to see that the Imperial Government proposes to discuss Labour Exchanges and their relations throughout the dominions. Its: credit is involved in having devised an acceptable scheme. “Meantime, all Imperialists, irrespective of party, earnestly hope that tho Conference will advance smoothly to a successful and prosperous issue.”