IMPERIAL UNITY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7867, 1 August 1911, Page 1

IMPERIAL UNITY

WORK OF THE CONFERENCE SIR JOHN FINDLAY WELL PLEASED. rnoM orn special corresponbsni. LONDON, June 23. Sir John Findlay who, by the way, haa had congratulations showered- upon him this'week on tho occasion of his knighthood, agrees with. Sir Joseph Ward in regarding the Imperial Conference of 1811 as tho most practical of tho series yet held. In an interview this morning New Zealand's second delegate gave mo his impressions of tho work of the conference. “I think it is generally admitted,” bet said, "that tho conference has produced more substantial practical results than any conference which has sat. It is true that tho conference did not embark upon, any wide scheme of Imperial federation, but there ran through tho whole of its deliberations a strong tendency to treat tbo Empire as one. in a sense in- which it has never been treated before. 1 "In secret committee tho Homo Government with tho utmost frankness and absolute openness disclosed tho whole of the foreign policy of Great Britain and the reasons for that policy. This conference,' coming as did early in tho sittings, of tho conference, promoted a reciprocal sense of trust and good feeling which was marked to the closing hour of the conference. "The undertaking on the part of the British Government that. in future, as far as practicable, England would submit for consideration to her oversea self-gov-erning countries all foreign’ treaties which in any -yvay_ would bo likely Loaffect those countries, and tho further undertaking that : Great Britain would endeavour to obtain the release of any of the oversea dominions which desired -it from the operation of existing commercial treaties, were, it will bo admitted. substantial acknowledgments uf Imperial partnership. . “A further illustration of the increasing recognition if Imperial unity was seen in the readiness with which British Ministers undertook to give as far as possible Imperial operation to the judgements and orders of courts of justice and the awards of commercial arbitration. The Attorney-General, Sir Rufus Isaacs, readily agreed to New , Zealand's proposal in this matter, and -ho emphatically condemned the anomaly.which has so long existed of Groat Britain treating, her oversea dominions, as regards tho operation of her legal processes, including judgments aud orders of courts, 'very much as she treats foreign nations. A

“The proposed amendments of Iho law both here and iu the ■ scljl-governing countries, when approved’ by the respectivel Parliaments, will give in proper cases the same, operation to judgments and orders of high courts both ’in the oversea dominions and in Great Britain as is now given to the judgments . and orders of British courts throughout the United Kingdom. “All in the same direction of unity, the Lord Chancellor agreed “to substantial changes in the Privy Council. AVo shall now have —if the King approves—what is substantially an'lmperial Court of Pinal Appeal, the jiroceduro of which will bo as far as possible assimilated to that of the House of Lords; and judges will, if they desire it, give dissenting judgments as they do now in the llouso of Lords.

“ The agreement arrived at with regard to Imperial naturalisation is also a very valuable step. The promise regarding the cheapening of cable rates will doubtless be shortly fulfilled, and very substantial reductions will be made in cable, rates between the Motherland and the oversea dominions —an advantage which is bound to result in an increased practical union between the people overseas and the people here. “In nearly all the proposals made by New Zealand with regard to modifications, and amendments of the law wc had* either, complete agreement on, tha part, of his : Majesty’s Government or wo had a ready willingness to moot us aa fur as possible.. “Personally, the work I have dona with the Solicitor-General, the AttorneyGeneral and the other law officers, of the Crown hero has been most interesting.” Sir .John'Findlay also referred to the lloyal Commission which is to be appointed to take evidence in the different' parts of the Umpire on matters concerning Imperial trade, immigration and Imperial uniformity 'in laws applying ,to commerce and shipping. The present idea is.that the commission shall consist of two representatives of the United Kingdom and one from each of the selfgoverning Dominions. “The expectation is,” said Sir John, “that the work they do and the results reached, it urgent, should be referred ib a subsidiary conference.. The commission will bo purely advisory.. Its mission is to- obtain "reliable, information and submit for consideration any proc posals it thinks will further the in ten ests of the Empire. "Such" a’ commission, largely representative as it ■ will be, not only of tha Motherland, but of the autonomous countries, is a step in tho direction ;f an Imperial Council.”