ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2983, 17 May 1911, Page 30

ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE.

LONDON, May 10.

The Standard states that after the reporters had left Monday's meeting of the Colonial Institute Sir John Downer, of South Australia, who was invited by the chairman to speak, referred to the Australian referendum.

Lord Carrington (sharply): We cannot have politics here under any circumstances ; this is a non-political meeting, and there can be no politics while I am in the chair.

The impressive silence that followed indicated that the sympathy of the meeting was with Sir J. Downer, who apologised for unintentionally offending. He added: "I am sorry I have done so, and still more sorry you called on me to speak."

May 11

The Royal Colonial Institute's Empire Trade and Industry Committee resolved that in view of the grave anxiety regarding the effects of reciprocity between Canada and the United States the Imperial Conference should rediscuss the question of uniformity of treaty, obligations within the Empire, and also consider the growing importance of a uniform company law, owing to the increasing tendency of British firms to establish oversea branches and increasing the popularity of Empire investments.