IMPERIAL MATTERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 6

IMPERIAL MATTERS.

ADDRESS BY PRIME MINISTER. CHRISTCHURCH, .Tune 5. TiiO importance of the impending Iniperial Conference was stressed to-day by the Prime Minister at a luncheon given in his honour. Those present were the guests of tiie Executive of the Canterbury branch of the Reform League, which arranged the function in order that the chairmen of local bodies and reresentatives of ether organisations should be given an opportunity of meeting Mr Massey before his expected departure for England to take part in the Imperial Conference. It was, therefore, of a non-party character. Mr 11. D. Acland (president of the Canterbury branch of the Reform League) was m the chair. “I’m going to avoid party politics,” said Mr Massey, on rising to speak. He knew, ho said, that many present were against him in politics, and he welcomed the opportunity of meeting them. The chairman had expressed the hope that he would lie representing New Zealand at the impending Imperial Conference. “So far as I am concerned, I am willing to serve my country either here or on the other side of tile world,” he exclaimed, “but I have represented New Zealand before at the conference, and I think that on the present occasion there are special reasons why I should attend again. It is an extraordinary fact that. I will be the only one of the war-time Prime Ministers who will have an opportunity to attend. Some of them have gone west, others have dropped out of politics, ag politicians have the habit of doing. I cannot think of a single wartime Prime Minister, even among the Allies, who now holds office. There had been many changes among members of tho

conference, for all of them are not Prims Ministers. I happen to be the senior member. I believe that the coming conference will be the most important ever held. If it is not it ought to be. If the Confeernce were going to bring the Empire closer together than in the past it was more than justified. New Zealand always had stood for unity of the Empire. Not long ago there was a naval conference in Sydney, and more than one speaker there expressed the opinion that in the past New Zealand had given other countries within the Empire a lead in matters of defence, and it was thought that in the matter of naval defence it ought to give the Empire a lead.”

Mr Massey, continuing, said that he considered the dominion would have to do more in naval defence than it had done in the past. —(“Hear, hear.”) The Empire had been on the verge of another war and the British Government apparently was determined to strengthen the position of the Empire in the Pacific, a‘s was borne out by the intention to establish a naval station at Singapore. We in New Zealand cannot sit back and let the English taxpayer bear the whole of this extra defence. Australia and New Zealand will have to bear their share. Discussing the Economic Conference to bo held m London, Mr .Massey said the questions to be, decided were just as important as those to be determined by the Imperial Conference. On the constitutional side the position, however, had now been reached bv which there would be arranged n. representative Council of Nations of tho Empire to deal with various nuestions that might arise. This Council would not govern the Empire. He had used the term “Council” for want of a better word. The question of defence was paramount. It had never been possible to arrange for periodical sittings of tho Conference. Ho

considered the Prime Ministers of all parts of the Empire should meet at least once in every two years. He was not wedded to London, and a Conference or Council could meet in other places Tho council could meet in Canada or any other of the dominions of the Empire in turn. An itinerant council would make for better acquaintance among tho parts of Empire. The conference order paper had not been arranged yet, but members had a. right to bring up any matters of interest. He hoped this would be brought up at the October conference. He did not want to discuss the great question of protection or free trade, but as one whose sympathies were to some extent with free trade, he wanted to say that the present policy of accepting goods from foreign countries, dumped upon them, was not sensible or fair trade We were entrusted with the management of an Empire that was capable of being made self-contained and self-support-ing. That opportunity had not been given. It was a matter of coming together and making a better arrangement for the supporting of the Empire, especially of stimulating the production of products that would make the Empire independent of any outside nation. The Imperial Cabinet might have been continued as an Empire Cabinet. He sincerely hoped that something would be done towards setting up a permanent council, independent of the Homo Government. Not that he bad any fault to find with the Government of Great Britain. The business of such a, council would bo to promote unity of Empire and promote tho

growth and welfare of the younger countries of the Empire. It would aim at making the countries of the Empire a family of nations. Lie often thought the duties could be undertaken by the Privy Council. As a member of that body he recognised there were difficulties in the way, but ho thought the scope of the Council could be extended

in this direction. The people of the Empire must not be lulled into a false sense of security, and if ever again they get into touble, such as in 1914, or ag was nearly the case more recently, he knew that the parts of the Empire would stand together again for Empire and humanity. Mr Bonar I.aw and others had admitted that without the help of the dominions it would have been impossible for the Allies to have won the war, so that the importance of the part now played in the defence of the Empire by _ the dominions should not be underestimated. There were various opinions as to whether battleships or air machines were now the principal means of. defence. His personal opinion was that both vyere required, and it was impossible to depend alone on either. The Governor-General and other high authorities were of opinion that it was necessary to maintain capital ships. In face of their opinion that the Empire must depend on battleships it would be foolish to decide upon other measures. “If tire British Empire ceased to exist. I believe civilisation would go down with it,”

declared Mr Massey. “If the Empire went down there would be many wars. No one wants war. We want peace. Let us, therefore, encourage all organisations that lead to peace. There is the League of Nations, and English-speak-ing unions and others, that led to the Washington Conference. Let us encourage all of them. A few months ago we were on the verge of war with Turkey, a war which was onl.v avoided by the tact, of the military authorities. Let us remember this, and on account of the possibilities of wars let us not tako any avoidable risks.”

Referring to New Zealand the Prime Minister said the raising of the last loan showed how sound the credit of the dominion stood. Our export figures were higher than any other country of the world, comparatively speaking. The change that

bad taken place was simply marvellous. Eight or nine years ago oar exports stood at £23.000,000, and for this year the exports were £45,500.000. Seme years ago he had expressed tho opinion that if our exports went to £50,000,000 our troubles would end. With thi> increase in exports the £SO.O<X),CCO mark would be exceeded. It was unfortunate that the sheep figures showed a decrease, but they would improve this year, he thought. This year our produce from dairying was valued at £16.003,000, and there were yet millions of acres suitable for dairying that had not been used. We should thank Providence, and take courage and do the best for this little country. No one was so well pleased as ho was at the improvement that had taker, place. Unfortunately human nature had not changed, and all they had to fear was another war. Great Britain would never again gc to war for glory, aggrandisement, or territory. She may have to do so for the sake of her people. Although he was a good party man it was necessary there should be a strong party sufficient to properly support a government, if it were worthy of support. Yet he recognised that on occasions such as the present it was a case of choosing for Empire and country every time quite independent of party.