BRITAIN'S AUSTRALIAN GUESTS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10405, 17 March 1910, Page 1

BRITAIN'S AUSTRALIAN GUESTS.

" COLONIAL INSTITUTE GATHER- • ING. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.'] (Per Press Association.) Received March 16, at 11.30 p.m. London, March 16. Earl Crewe, speaking at Sir G. ; H. Reid's banquet, said the duties of the Agents-General were in nowise trenched upon by Sir G. H. Reid's arrival. He thought the comparison of High Commissioners and Agents-General to Ambassadors singularly infelicitous. He preferred to regard them as Imperial .statesmen whose duties were partly to look after that part of the Empire which they represented, and also to give opinions on many Imperial problems without party trammels. He thought it ■ unlikely that the -present arrangements whereby the Secretary for the Colonics looked after the business connected with the oversea Dominions and the Crown Colonies would be permanent, and a separation of the duties was probable within the near future. The idea of the Imperial Council coidd bestbe promoted by taking the overseas Dominions into conference, and whenover the interests of the Dominion were concerned with any diplomatic problem, placing the utmost confidence in the statesmen of the Dominions.

Sir G. H. Rekl, in replying, recalled the rich stream of emigration to the Australian goldfields. "We now see in the rising greatness of Australia, in her rapidly increasing strength, the industrial and growing volume of her trade, the magnificent dividends winch Australia is rendering under British colonisation and enterprise. The Australian system of government represents perhaps the largest measure of trust in the people and freedom for the community that to-day is visible on the world's face. The task of developing the Commonwealth is just as much an Imperial task as that of settling Home political difficulties, and a task which excites no party differences. The Imperial and colonial Governments- should unite in using their utmost influence to secure suitable British emigrants for the Empire's Dominions. Many suggestions are being made for adding to the ties of undoubted affection now existing. In considering them statesmen have a most anxious task in reconciling free play and self-interest with enlightened regard for the Empire's welfare." He mentioned, amid cheers, Australia's voluntary'preference to the iilotherland. Sir G. H. Reid remarked that he was bound to add that there was in Australia a strong desire to go further and reach a reciprocal arrangement—(cheers), —but the desire bad never, as far as he could sec, got the length of sacrificing their own growing manufactures. Received March 17, at 8.20 a.m. London, March 16. Sir G. K. Reid, concluding, said that any insinuation that Australia's loyalty was mixed with the fiscal question and depended on the Motherland's answer to these questions of preference and reciprocity was an unfounded slander. — (Cheers.) Until any new departure was based on a conviction that it cmbodied an advantage, strengthening the Motherland, it would be repudiated by the Dominions. The Times says it hopes that Earl Crewe's remark foreshadows the affairs of the Dominions coming under the immediate cognisance of the Premier. Received March 17, at 9.15 a.m. London, March 10. The Lord Mayor presided at a luncheon to Mr Moore, Premier of Western Australia, at Fishmongers' Hall. Among the 125 guests present were Sir Gerard Smith, Sir C. Lucas, the Agents-General, and other wellknown colonials. In proposing Mr Moore's health the Lord Mayor said his record as Premier would be quite worthy of comparison with any of his predecessors. He referred to the great growth of West Australia's agricultural possibilities, which in a great measure was due to Mr Moore's work. ?.Ir Moore in reply said he was highly gratified at the presence of representatives of the commercial, banking, and mining sections of the West Australian community. Perhaps the most important duty of his Government was to iostor immigration; in that he hoped to- be able to co-operate with Sir G. H. Reid. His State desired to encourage Englishmen and other Europeans who were prepared to go on the soil and assist in developing the country. His great territory wanted capital and population, and must look to the Old Country for them.

In proposing the health of the chairman, Sir G. H. Reid emphasised Australia's need for immigrants, who would ho a far better investment for England than money.