EMPIRE PRESS DIMER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7869, 3 August 1911, Page 8

EMPIRE PRESS DIMER

OVERSEA JOURNALISTS ENTERTAINED. LORD C LUZON’S PRAISE. F2OII QUB SPECIAL CORUE3PONDENT. LONDON, June 23. Among- the New Zealand journalists at the dinner given by the English x>ress on Saturday night to the visiting pressmen Irani Greater Britain wore Air A. J. Jlcighwav ("Otago Daily Times'’), Mr U. U. Jverslake (Palmerston "Evening Standard"), Mr T. L. liuick ("Dannevirke Advocate”), Mr J. M. Dolamore (“Matanra Ensign"), Mr R. C. Horton ("New Zealand Herald"), Mr E. N. Armlt (Wellington "Tost"), Airs E. Carr Rollet (Auckland). Sir Joseph Ward sat at the top table between Mr T. P. O’Connor, M.P., and Mr Kennedy Jones, of tho “Daily Mail." Air A. E. U. Rhodes, a director of tho Christchurch "Press,” was also at tho top table. The New Zealand Press Agency was represented by Mr RB. Brett. Lord Burnham, tho doyen of the English press, jiresided. He_ welcomed tho guests in a speech in wiiicli ho recalled that two years ago ho addressed a similar assembly, borne of those present were among that gathering. Lord Burn, ham continued: "The work done at that time and since by the journalistic administration of the Empire _ press has been most valuable. It has included, im. portent concessions made by cable companies in the rates of telegraphing news between Great Britain and the overseas dominions, a far more advantageous supply of nows to the papers in India, South Africa and Australasia by arrangement between the Eastern and Eastern Extension Telegraph Companies, acting in conjunction with Router’s Telegram Company, a reduction in rate between Groat Britain and the Straits Settlemeats, and various smaller understandings of a mutually beneficial nature.” Making a plea for Imperial unity. Lord Burnham said: “There certainly can bo unity of ideals, of sympathies, and of effort. Surely wo can stretch hands across the sea, and say to men in every part of the Empire, Tour ideals of self-government, -of international honour, of social justice, of ordered progress, are our ideals, and these are bonds which distance cannot weaken and time can never impair.’ ” • Lord Curzon proposed the toast “Our Guests.” Ho said he believed the press of the overseas dominions represented a high and increasing standard of excellence, It was strongly imbued with the Imperial spirit, and it reproduced all the best traditions of tho Motherland from which it sprang. He felt that he ought almost to apologise to their visitors for the appearance now presented by the metropolis. Ho did not know whether to compare it with the state of a city under siege or a patient in splints, but whatever its appearance now tho capital of tho Empire would present on Thursday an appearance that neither Babylon in its splendour nor Rome in its pride could ever have presented. Their guests wore hero to take part in and describe to those in distant parts of tho Empire one of tho great landmarks in the history of the British people. Was the Imperial idea, which they were hero not only to celebrate, but to propagate, making progress? lie had no hesitation, as far as this country was concerned, in answering that question in tho affirmative. To his mind the progress marked by the present Imperial Conference was great and substantial and genuine. It represented progress towards tliat ideal of some closer form of organic unity covering the whole field of Imperial policy and relations which most of them had in mind. Mr Geoffrey E. Fairfax (of Sydney) replied to tho toast.