IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19947, 15 November 1926, Page 9

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

COMMITTEE WORK CONCLUDING. SOLUTION OF EMPIRE MIGRATION. CONTRIBUTIONS TO NAVAL DEFENCE. DIFFICULTIES FACING COMMONWEALTH. (Pres* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, November 12. Much of the spadework of the Imperial Conference has been completed, the result of an unbroken week of committee work. The plenary session is expected to begin on Monday for the registering of decisions or issuing statements. Virtually the only remaining break in the conference work is the treaty puzzle. To-day’s communique says that some progress was made by the sub-committee on treaty procedure, but one of the lawyer members later qualified this with the remark that “Perhaps we did gain about two inches, but that’s something.” Otherwise the discussions are going on with the utmost smoothness. Mr Bruce told the migration public meeting that it was the most practical conference in the Empire’s history, and would produce the most effective solution of Empire migration yet conceived. It is gathered that the chief achievement as regards Empire migration is that intimate committee discussions have created a better understanding of the dominions’ difficulties in more rapidly absorbing newcomers. It is admitted that so far as Australia is concerned it will be necessary for the Commonwealth to seek afresh to enlist and co-ordinate the States’ activities so that a reduction of fares for specialised classes may be taken up with the Imperial authorities. The discussion at Monday’s plenary session on Imperial defence is likely to centre around the Dominions’ contributions to naval defence. While Mr Coates favourably regards the share which New Zealand may have to bear, it is understood that Mr Bruce is not finding the position so easy, since Australia has committed herself to building two cruisers and two submarines, also a floating dock. Mr Bruce is unable to dismiss from his mind the extent to which the Commonwealth is pledged to support the Singapore base, and he may have to tell the conference that his Ministry will have to consider the matter in that light, coupled with Australia’s own commitments, and the more difficult consideration of political expediency.—A. and N.Z. Cable. PRODUCTS OF THE TROPICS. LONDON. November 12. Mr Coates and Mr Bruce were among the Dominion guests at a luncheon, given in honour of the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture at Trinidad, which, according to the chairman, Sir Arthur Shipley, despatches trained students all over the Empire. Despite the large,proportion of the Empire which was in the tropics tropically-trained agriculturists, entomologists, and mycologists were scarce. The tropics had a limitless supply of vegetable alcohol which might be the cheapest source of energy in the future. He did not hesitate to ask the dominions for assistance. Mr Coates promised that New Zealand would consider the question of rendering assistance. The dominion representatives inspected the models and photographs of the college, also the stores in Haymarkct, where they saw an admirable exhibit of Empire products.—A. and N.Z. Cable.