PARLIAMENTARY TOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15856, 30 August 1913, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY TOUR.

■ BRITISH VISITORS ENTERTAINED. COMPLIMENTARY LUNCHEON. SPEECH BY LORD EMMOTT. IMPERIAL UNITY. (Pjeb United Press Association.) '\ _ _ WELLINGTON,-August 29. The British.' members of Parliament wh -> are paying a Visit to New Zealand were entertained at luncheon at Bellamy's tdday. Members of both Houses were present. . .

The Hon. Mr Massey, in proposing the health of the visitors, expressed his de; light at having the pleasure of welcoming to New Zealand Lord Emmott and the members'of the Empire Parliamentary Assoj elation travelling, with him. He regretted the briefness of the, visit, but felt assured : that the visitors would enjoy themselves while here. He felt that it was more important fo? Imperial statesmen to visit the colonies than it was for colonials to .visit the Old Country. It would be a splendid thing if an Imperial Conference were' held in- eomo of the overseas dominions- instead of always in England. He did not think it possible, of course, to tiring about drastic changes in that direction all at once. They should go on ■improving and amending all the-time. In New Zealand they had .been endeavouring to do their duty, and especially to protect themselves. They realised that British interests' were their interests, and- that their interests were the interests of Britain, end New Zealand was always prepared' to take its fair share .of the •defence of the Empire. He hoped Lord Bmmott's visit to this and the'-other do-, minions would help him in the discharge of his dutiss, and he alao hoped that the conferences he had had with, that distinguished gentleman would tend to assist in maintaining the -welfare of the Empire. In conclusion, ho could inform the visitors that New Zealand' was progressive .and particularly. prosperous. Last year they had increased, the exports by three millions, and they hoped to increase last figures-by three millions this year. —(Applause.) Lord Emmott, in replying, eulogised the work being accomplished by Lord_ and Lady Liverpool. He made .appreciative reference to the enthusiastic receptions they had received everywhere in New iZealand. They all deplored the brevity of their stay, but their disappointment in that direction was more than made up by the warmth of their iwelcome. The Ministers of the Crown had done all that they could, and more than they were obliged to do. He was pleased to again meet his friend, Sir J. G. Ward, -who was one of the beet-known New Zoalanders' in England. He would look forward to again coming to this country, as they t had all been 60 kindly■ treated. .This was the first time a Britain parliamentary party had visited New Zealand. They all knew ■that the King took a great interest in the welfaro of the dominions. So great was that interest that he had sent the party a cablegram whilei they were in midAtlantio' wishing theni all" bon voyage. Your loyalty to the throne and . the Empire, he said, were knowato all men, and had been shown in the desire to assist in the defence of the Empire, He "refefted to New Zealand's gift of a battleship to the nation, and remarked upon the fact that this country was the first to do so, He was distinctly pleased with the way in which the visit of the ship hud been received, especially by the Maoris. He Was an advocate of closer organic unity, and he hoped they would always keep it before them. Some people did not appreciate the difficulties of such matters. Real progress towards unity had been made in a fairly marked way during the past few years. The Imperial Conferences had come to stay, and were being found more useful as -conference followed conference. In the Empire there wa6 no finer system of Imperial naturalisation, but.a Bill -had been drafted on the subject, and he thought that before the next conference came that matter would be settled satisfactorily to the Home Government and to the dominions. _ A Bill had been passed in connection -with appellate jurisdiction. The Judicature Committee had been increased from five to seven, and New Zealand should be represented thereon. Attention was being devoted by colonial Governments to copyright and company law 6ince the last Imperial Conference, and the Home' Government was similarly interesting itself, in thoee matters. Considerable progress had been made in the matter of cheapening- cable communication. On • the matter of the navy Lord Emmott said that if it were said, thoy were building slowly it should also be said they were building well. He said .they were making great progrees with the Committee of Imperial Defence at the present time. In conclusion, he said they were making real 'progress towards Imperial unity; which question far transcended party differences. " Let ua work together," he said, "to make our Empire approximate as closely as possible to our'ideals."' Mr Donald M'Master, K.C., congratulated New Zealand on the satisfactory con-' dition of the exports, of the country. The fac| that an increase of three millions on last year's .figures was expected was surely a source of gratification, to the Government and the people, and was abundant evidence of the prosperity of the dominion. He believed that -the visit of the party would increase their knowledge-of the affairs of the overseas dominions. They were only a 6mall party going abroad to school, and the knowledge they must gain would be of unbounded assistance to them in the discharge of their duties. There was a time when the going away from home of members of Parliament had been looked upon with disapproval, but that time had passed. He was convinced that the visit abroad would be of great assistance to them at- Westminster. They at home did not require to be assured of the locality of this country—they had proved that not by precept, but by example and action. No one knew better of that locality and patriotism tha.n those at Homo. There was one thing they knew, and that was that the people hew had got hold of one of the choicest spots on the earth. Although the population was only one million, it was easily susceptible of being increased to five or ten millions. If Great Britain and. Ireland could accommodate 45 millions New Zealand could accommodate the same number. What they wanted to find out was the great problems that engrossed the public mind, their views of the resources and development of the country, and their views in connection with the gTCat Empire to which they belonged, He referred to the great progress made of late years In connection with cables. They- wanted proper and better communication over the water, under the water, and in the air.— (Hear, hear.). The most pleasing event of their trip so far was the sight of New Zealand's ship in British Columbia. On the subject of naval defenceUie contended that the most potent factor in Europe was an efficient navy, .and the best guarantee oE peace was readiness -for war. They were all for peace and prosperity, but peace was not all in, their making, and the best voucher for peace was that theywero too strong for the enemy to attack them. What they needed was to be prepared so that if the gates of hell were opened they should be ready for them. . Sir J. G. Ward proposed the toast of the Empire Parliamentary Association, To-day, lie said, was a red-letter day in the history of the British Empire. It was an education to hear from those present what was thought in the Old Country. Dealing with cable matters, Sir Joseph AVard maintained that they wanted to have no doubt as to the communication between here and the other side of the world. The visit of Lord Emmott's party would be invaluable. It would wipe out any ideas left by the Little England party, which had passed and gono for ever. That day's function was an epoch-making occasion. He would dearly like to see Mr Harcourt pay a visit to the overseas dominions. Some of the matters referred to by Lord Emmott were already the subject of much consideration all through the world. He would like to see those connected with the administration of the overseas dominions como out and eco [or themselves the countries over the destinies of which they presided. New Zealand was proud to be .* nortion of the British

Empire and to work towards the common destiny of progress and peace, and to make the Empire so strong that anyone who tried to resist it would be pushed off the face of the earth.

The- Right Hon, T. Lough, in a happy speech, paid a special tribute to the enthusiastic welcome which the party had. received. It was a wonder that there had not been an association of parliaments years ago so as to secure a better understanding between the different units. Such an association might tend to remove wrong impressions and wrong ideas on the part of the Old Country. There was never any idea at Home to do anything but justice to the overseas dominions. . No political party had ever failed to protect the dominions or failed to recognise that they would shed the last drop of blood in the_ interests of the dominions. Little England had never failed in her duty to the colonies. The only thing England failed in was the understanding. The efforts of the association might produce better communication between this country and England. They had experienced great difficulty in getting communication between the colonies-and the Old Country, and they hoped in some way to effect a remedy. The cablegrams between here and England now cost 3s per word, but they would endeavour to .bring that charge down to 3d. "You have-as much to give us," he said, •" as we have to give you. You started out on a more scientific basis than ive did, and that is .why you are so prosperous." There had to be considered by this country the development of it 6 great resources. They needed a broad, humane, and peaceful policy. If any interference were theatened they could always rely on the Old Country.—(Cheers).

Sir Stephen Collins, in a few words, ■proposed the health of the Prime Minister. jHe dealt especially with the grandeur of the country and the. excessive hospitality showered upon them. The Hon. Mr Massey, in, replying, said that since taking up the duties of Prime Minister of the dominion he had had to take up many important duties, but he' could assure them that nothing gave him so much pleasure as presiding over that gathering! There was no party feeling in connection with Imperial matters in this country.' He represented the whole of the people, and could assure the visitors that he was sincere in what he had said.

Mr Will Crooks, in a few words, responded to an insistent call for him. He said the dominion was great in possibilities if not in acres. He predicted a great future and prosperity for New Zealand. They held it for posterity. "If you run the dominion,," he said, " always with the sole object of'£ s. d. then not only the generation of to-day but the generations unborn will curse you. If you run it with the single view of living humanity and of fighting, straining, and struggling to leave the world better than you found it, then the generations unborn will bless you."— (Loud applause.) The gathering broke tip with the singing of the National Anthem.

DEPARTURE FROM NEW ZEALAND. (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. August 29. The paTty left for Sydney by the Maunganui to-night. A number of members of the House of ■Representatives bade farewell to them on .the wharf.