THE COLONIES.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XII, Issue 2374, 2 June 1906, Page 6

THE COLONIES.

IMPORTANT SI'LKCH iSY MR CHURCHILL. PEB UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION. Loudon. May 30. Mr \V H. James, K.C.. Agent-(*en-cral tor West Australia, presided at tic- West Australian dinner. The Hon. W . I’. Reeces. H igh Commissioner tor New Zealand, was amongst the quests. .Mi Winston Churchill. Under-Secre-tary for the Colonies, in proposing the health ot “The Common wealth." said that although every expectation had not been fulfilled, the federation was a great and glorious event tor one gen-t-ration to achieve. The present generation would reap solid advantages, and future generations would look hack with reverence and enthusiasm. Australia s development had hoe: giand, hut different to any other community in the world. Sometimes when they saw a population ! million* trodden in the slush of great cities, or forgotten and famished, and the thought of the vast expanse ot territory available, he considered Atisi ralia wise in follow ing collectivist rather than < unpetitive ideals, and watching with (are the torfuaes ot the rearguard and the weaker portions of the army ot labour and mdu»t ry. (Cheei - i Complimenting West Australia up • t her progress, and eulogising Sir John l ie rest s public work, Mr Churchill sa 1 he (..is ,n , p-rt ot Hri:a thei w great Y« terest in and goodwill for tin* Commonwealth. All were I inking forward to th- Colder >nce ol ( eloni d i’■ emiers. tor the occasion would revive and express a strong growing tooling ol sympathy and agreeineni. Kver.v Australian ploughshare would ho a sword for Knglnnd. Tin* Coiiti-ie; ce would ho free and unfettered. ii would practically he a Iriendl.v discussion and have only oi e oh. -c* in

view—to develop everything promoting the larger unity of the Empiie ana to eliminate anything likely to prove harmful. The Conference would include in its programme a dozen subjects—law, strategy, trade communication, education, and science—any one of which was well worthy of the collective intelligence and combined discussion of the Empire’s representatives. Mr. Churchill hoped that the question of intercolonial preference would be discussed. It was easy for two tariff States to make a reciprocal adjustment and an infinitely smaller thing for them to make such adjustment mutually than for a country possessed of a totally different system to consider any alteraticin in its system. All intercolonial adjustments which might he made and all reciprocal treaties such as were being discussed, as be knew from tin* daily work between tbe various colonies, must be steps in the direction of that universal Imperial trade v liich it should undoubtedly ho our object to ultimately achieve. (Cheers.) The British navy, said .Mr. Churchill was strong enough to give practical security to Australia, but that was not enough. Australia must find development for its national citizen volunteer army, the real and only guarantee which a strong nation should accept for its honour and existance. He advised Australians not to identify themselves with any one party in the Motherland, but to look to institutions above the flow of party politics -the traditions and achievements in the field of war and learning, which was Australia s equally with the Motherland. He emphasised the Government's desire to bring about and maintain friendly relations with the colonies. The Government had. said Mr Churchill, a gia at work to do. What he asked, could he more foolish and idiotic than to go out ol the way to give offence to the colonies? It was natural that the Liberals should look with interest and affection on the pioneers oi social experiments on lines more progressive than ours. Tli ■ Government wished to do its duty by the colonies, to do what was fair and i igl t. He asked for a recognition of honesty of motives a.id a generous interpretation of words and actions. ii . t hap an. Fed< mi Post-mme'.m-<m noral. i ■ replying, said Australia did not need ail apologist. The j Commonwealth never looked more j pi sperotis from end to < nil than today. \\ believer the note of danger li the Empire .as sounded Australia ! uoiii.i give but one response. Sir j. Ai idden, Chi I Justice ot Victoria. also replied. Hi said there was j nothin.., to fear io the policy of the] Labour Party. A large proportion ol that party held a large stake in the] country. Hence they would east their , votes in favour ot prudence should | England ever want aid. Sir Joseph \\..rd. in proposing the j toast n! "Uost Au-ralia. asked Mr Churchill to visit the colonies. He ] hoped tlia' the lortl,coming Confer- I cnee would consider the question of tlie limitation ot an imperial Council, i Mr Kirwan I West Australia) re- ] plied.