“PAROCHIAL AMBITION”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8679, 12 March 1914, Page 8

“PAROCHIAL AMBITION”

TO WISH TO (STAND ALONE

DOMINION HOUSE AND THE DOMINIONS.

“ Australia, and New Zealand are the only Dominions I have visited that are directly affected,” said Earl Grey, in reply to a question yesterday as to which of the Dominions had expressed their approval of the Dominion House scheme. “Mr W. A. Watt, Premier of Victoria, has listed the Dominion House scheme for consideration by a conference of Australian Premiers, over which (he will preside. It ia convened, I understand, for the end of March or the beginning of April. Mr Massey has given the scheme all the support I think be can give at the present time. He has expressed himself sympathetically towards the scheme, but cannot say what action the New Zealand Government will take till ho has had an. opportunity of discussing the question with, representatives of the other Dominions. ■ £ if Australia, New .Zealand, Canada, and South Africa all have magnificent buildings in Loudon, (but all separated from each other, you will find they will ■be '.lost in the great metropolis. If they will co-operate together and make the building large enough their hall will (attract everybody. At present, owing to the fact that the Dominions have all got shop windows in different parts of'London nobody knows where to go to get Dominion fruit. As soon as a sort of Dominion .Covent Garden is set up where people can go for fruit, they will be able to indulge their natural preference to buy from their brethreal across tho seas. To /wdsii to stand, out alone from, everybody else and to. be the only pebble on the beach Appears to me to he a small parochial ambition. By co-operating together the various States of the Dominions can help each other, and vvill also be able to get better .advertising for their pro-, duce and cheaper and more commodious offices for themselves.” Earl Grey said the option which he had over the site took effect from Juno 26th last, and extended for a term of three years. The London County Council to whom the land belonged, bad the right to terminate the option on June 26th next unless there was (evidence that .the people wanted it. So that the direct option, extended only tor one year. ” I have done my part of the work,” he continued. “It does not matter a hit to mo personally whether the scheme goes through or not, hut ,1 do maintain it does affect every single Dominion grower who wants to find a market for his produce, whether he is in New .Zealand, Canada, Australia, or South Africa. It is for them to decide Whether the option 1 have secured is of real use to them or not. 1 believe that if the proposals I have put forward are realised the producers will get the cheapest and best- advertisement lor their produce that, has ever been obtained by any 'Canada disapproved of the scheme?” asked the reporter, instancing a recent cable .message which stated that Canada (regarded the cost as ■fcoo srGftt. , <« I was greeted with tins announcement ” replied Earl Grey, “ on the day of my arrival in Australia on February 7th Ido no* think there was any -justification, for that ©able, and am inquiring into the source of its origin. I have received a cable recently stating that there had been a debate in the Senate at Ottawa in which Senator Lone heed, leader of the Conservative party in power, and .colleague of Mr Borden, hod referred, sympathetically to the scheme, but added that the Government, like the Government of Now Zealand, had not oome to a final decision. It is obvious that a consultation between the Dominion Governments must precede a settlement.”