THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10604, 5 November 1910, Page 4

THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

[By Electric Telegrami—Copy'kicht.] (Per Phess Association.) Received November 4, at 10.10 p.m. London, November 4. The Chronicle denies the appointment of a new Secretary for the Colonies. What is contemplated is a permanent secretariat for the overseas dominio.ns', who will be the official spokesman. The paper adds that the change will not be introduced before Jlr Fisher's arrival in England. Sir \V. Hall-Jones, interviewed, suggested that the innovation was merely a recognition of the fact that New land and other dominions were developing so rapidly that it was essential that the Home Government shcnild .afford! nioi e caieful attention to their needs, lie added that,the Colonial Office had behaved excellently to the overseas}dominions in tlie- past, and Lord Crewe had never failed to use; his interest on. their behalf. • v - • v^ Received November 5, at 0.13^a.m. "London, NoveinDer 4. The Daily News says the dominions' gnevanco against the Colonial, Office will not bo met by'giving theni a new Secretary of State to themselves, as the bulk of the Colonial Office's work concerns the Crown colonies, the Dominions Department being a very attenuated 'affair. What the dominions want is the right of direct access to the Premier, \\ ho- i\ ill then be the, i dominions' mouthpiece to the Foioign Secretary, the War Office, and Admiralty.

Received November 5, at 8.45 a.m. London, .November 4. Lord Hugh Cecil, in a letter, says. Irish Home Rule is as out of place in "the Imperial federation as sewage in. 1 milk. The Empire at present does not want, and would not tolerate, an Imperial Parliament, and it certainly would not accept laws and imposts enacted in London. It was a Parliamentary Council of the Empire that was needed, with only consultative powers, to" deal with the defence of the Empire and ultimately other Impeiial problems. The Times' Toronto correspondent, commenting on Mr T. P. O'Connor's arguments for a federal union of the Empire rather than an absolute selfgovernment culminating in the political independence of Ireland, sajs it is freely asserted that Earl Gicy and Sir W. Launer are in favor of a reorganisation of the Ernpne after a federal pattern.