VOICES FROM OVERSEA IN EMPIRE COUNCIL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7448, 24 May 1911, Page 7

VOICES FROM OVERSEA

IN EMPIRE COUNCIL

POSSIBILITIES OF PROVISION FOB EMERGENCIES. By Telegraph—Frees Association—Oopyrielit LOiNDON, May 22. 1 Sir Joseph Ward, in an interview, said the Empire was so big and scattered, and its growth so rapid that there was necessity for devising a method of united action in great emergencies of vital interest. It was essential to have in peace time a system which would always be ready and effective for operation in time of war. He expressed the hope that the Imperial' Conference would be convinced that it was possible to erect machinery for the accomplishment of this purpose. Within a quarter of a century the , overseas dominions would be more powerful in population, wealth, and production than tho' Motherland was to-day. He was referring not to accumulated wealth, but to the direct productiveness of the soil and the industries. The “voice of. the Dominions,' 1 continued Sir Joseph, “must he heard in matters of Empire as a whole. ; The brightest and best intellects of the Old Country and the New ought to combine in producing a system invigorating to the body and limbs of the Greatest Empire the world has seen. 11 ■ SOCIAL GATHEEJUGS LUNCHEON AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. LONDON. May 22. The Prime Ministers and their ladies attended luncheon at Buckingham Palace. Lady Ward sat on tho Kingh left and'Princess Christian on his right at tho luncheon. . .. The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Connaught, Prince Arthur of Connaught, the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, Mr and Mrs Asquith, and Mr and Mrs Lewis Harcourt were present at the luncheon at tho Palace. The King chatted with tho delegates individually for an hour and a half. There were no speeches. . Other guests included Colonial Office officials, ladies and gentlemen of _ the court, Mr and Mrs Batchelor,' Dr and Mrs Findlay, and Senator "Pearce. ■ A Capetown and Rhodesian contingent of forty-eight was also present. Delegates afterwards met at the Colonial Office'to arrange for the social engagements in connection with, the Imperial Conference. • •Mr Asquitlds guests to-night included Lord Lorebum (Lord .Chancellor), the Earl of Aberdeen-(Lord Lieutenant of Ireland), Lord Minto (ex-Viceroy of India), Earl Beauchamp (First- . Commissioner of .Works arid an ex-Governor of Now South Wales), Lord Milner, Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener, Lord Tennyson (ex-Governor-Gerieral of Australia), Lord Denman (Governor-Gene-ral-elect of Australia), Lord Brassey (an es-Governor of Victoria), Sir George Reid (High Commissioner for Australia), and Sir William; Hall-Jones (High Commissioner for New' Zealand).'' I, ; . /;' A GARDEN PARTY. (Received May 23, 10 p.m.) LONDON, May 23. Two thousand invitations have been issued for tho garden party to bo held to-day at the Prime residence at the Foreign Office, Downing street. ; ' A BRILLIANT RECEPTION. , (Received May 23, H p.m.) LONDON. May 23. At the Foreign Office reception, last night there Were 30,000 guests—the largest and most brilliant assemblage in recent years. Every- member of both Houses' of Parliament, every Privy Councillor, and many high officials and colonial residents were invited. Lord Beauchamp, First Commissioner of Works, was'the official host on-behalf of tho Government entertainment coinl mittee, entrance hall and staircase were converted into a fairyland, flowers and national colours predominating.