CORONATION VISITORS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2523, 23 July 1902, Page 28

CORONATION VISITORS.

ENTERTAINING THE PREMIERS

LONDON, July 15

The directors of Lloyd's Register entertained the colonial Premiers at luupheon. The leading shipowners, the Lord Mayor, and the Agents-general were present.

Sir E. Barton, responding to the toast J' Prosperity to the Colonies," said that Lord Salisbury was retiring in the plenitude of his magnificent, power. Had any promotion to Mr Chamberlain caused him to quit the Colonial Department 'the colonies would have universally anourned the loss of an administrator who had made the Colonial Office the symbol of the Empire's power.

Emphasising the desire of the colonies for trade with the Motherland rather than with foreigners, he urged that the Motherland, in return, should prefer the trade of the colonies. Her trade with .these was increasing in larger proportions than it was elsewhere. The colonies' message to tho Motherland was : " Look after tho whole trade, but look after your friends first."'

Sir Edmund, continuing, said that it Was unnecessary that any part of the JUmpire should sacrifice its fiscal policy Sr any principle, but; it was possible to ring about closer cohesion, and to abanon extremes all round for the sake of

the common "good. That was all they were likely to reach at the present Imperial Conference, but in that they would have reached common ground.

Lord Selborne, responding to the toast of " The Flag," a^ked whether the colonies fully realised what the navy meant to them. Replying to the suggestion that in war time the colonies would give the utmost assistance in their power, he asked what would that be worth in a time of naval war unless there had been previous preparation. Such procrastination was the certain road to withering defeat. What would be the position of the colonies if they were separate nations — each a power the size of Canada? Australia would have to spend at least one million pounds per annum on her navy, apart from the expenditure on docks, barracks, harbours, and hospitals. Moreover, each colony, if existing as a separate nation, would be within the orbit of a foreign Power. The navy was the Empire's real safety.

The National Liberal Club gave a dinner to the colonial Premiers. Lord Carrington presided.

Sir W. Laurier admitted with regret the impossibility of universal Freetrade within tho Empire.

Sir E. Barton said that nothing would flow from the present conference at variance with the inalienable autonomy of the colonies, or in the direction of diminishing their individual right of self-government.

Mr Seddon advocated aiding the ships of the Empire on conditions equally favourable to those under which ships were built in foreign countries. He denounced combines. A number of colonial visitors, including Mr Seddon, attended the Duke of Marlborough's garden party at Blenheim. July 17. Prince Christian, on behalf of the Soldiery and Sailors' Fund, held a reception entertainment for tho Indian Princes and the Premiers at the Grafton Galleries. Lords Kitchener and Knutsford, Sir E. Barton, Sir J. Forrest, Mr Seddon, and a number of colonial officers were present. Mr Rosa Bird organised an excellent musical and dramatic programme, which was followed by a supper.