THE PRIME MINISTER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13813, 29 January 1907, Page 5

THE PRIME MINISTER

EXTET'TAIXED P.Y AUCKLAND CHAMBER (W COMMENCE,

Till? imperial coxferexce.

(Per United I'kess Association.)

AUCKLAND. •Tannary 28. In recognition of his services to commerce and to hid liim '* lion vovage" the I nine Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) was entertained this afternoon at Ihe Chamber of Commerce Hall h.v the members of tho chamber. The vice-president (Mr Ivor ■•Mile) presided. Tim chairman, in proposing'the toast of •*tlio Prime Minister" fcaiel, (hat after tho tragic death of Mr fte<Won ihci-o was only ono man upon i !\ J !," ,;o '°". v considered his mantle J}!, 1'• aMl ' ' l 0 wils S' l ' Joseph Ward J he Prime Minister, who was cordiaHv rcreived, .?aul ho sincerely appreciated the ugh honour paid to him by the commercial won of the important ci'iy of Auckland. Hoarding tho objectsof I lie Imperial Conlorcnco. lie said ]iooarne.-lly hoped that in his Pltwis .lie would at all event,s not lio charged with other than an earnest ejesiro io do Mm nest possible in the interests of our growing colony. No more important conference had ever hcen held from a. commercial point of view. Thev were, in a timo of remarkable evolution, a time of Struggle [or commercial supremacy. Thev would be wanting in tlio traditions of (hei'r race if they did not exercise every possible effort. to see that the people of the Kinniiv mul tho right; of competing with their nuig'lihonrs upon level Icrms, and that no restrictions existed such as thev saw at the present moment. Tho conference would have Ihe duty of deciding what legislation would he rei|iiircd to meet tlio diversity of interests and conditions in order io provide leasonablo facilities for ihe mercantile community in the light for commercial supremacy. Jlc was satisfied I hut, without attempting Io interfere with tho internal commercial arrangements of the. Old jountry, changes would result in authority being' given to Iho colonial Legislatures, with tho endorsement of the British Government, to enter into, in a much broader sense, _ reciprocal treaties with their own countries ami in some instances witli others for tlio general benefit; of commerce. 'I'he conference would also Imvo to deal with other matters more dircctly concerning the people) of this country. Tho Government had already indicated that u full revision 01 tho New Zealand tariff woutd require to bo undertaken next session, and it was an opportune time for the colony to bo ab'.o at tho Boat of tho Empire to discuss some of tlio broader (natters which would liavo somo effect in building up our own tariff, and also have an influence "upon Canada and South Africa, and certainly the Old' Land. Tho continued the Prime Minister, would havo »i consider how our own' commerce should bo protected at sea, and liow our shores should bo protected should unhappily the need arise.

Ihe l'rime Minister, accompanied by Mr •I. liislcp, private sqcretary, left for Sydney by ihe Wimmcra shortly before 6 o eloek to-night, a number of personal friends and political acquaintances seeing him off. At Sydney Sir Joseph will join Lady Ward and his daughter. they having left Wellington for Sydney last week. Sir Joseph will catch the Mongolia for Europe, arriving in England in March.