THE PREMIERS FETED.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10962, 3 May 1907, Page 3

THE PREMIERS FETED.

VICTORIA LEAGUE'S ,„- „ PRESENTATION.

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph.— Copyright.) (Received May 3, 8.44 a.m.) LONDON, May 2. Tbe Victoria League, Lady Jersey presiding presented the Premiers at the Imperial Institute with an address of welqome, signed by 2000 members. Mx Deakin, m acknowledging the gift, referred humorously to the interference v With the work of the Imperial Conference by banqueting and gaieties,' which departmental satirists might almost have suppos. Ed to have been carefully planned with a* vievy of distracting, from the business of the Empire, or presenting a*, better understanding. He added, m a half cheery vein : "Despite such surroundings we will not he crushed." (Cheers.)i Tf we seek m vain for some things in official circles, for sympathy and assistance; for ' the helping hand extended out. tp us 'in bur remote countries, ftnd for the action here so all-" important at the centre, we can look to leagues and voluntary organisation of -<citi-' zenS to fill the place that official circles are. inclined ' to leave empty. (Cheers.) 2 Tile League deserved the Cordial thanks of the peoples of : the Outer Empire. If - ypu receive less than mere' recognition here ; if the cold'phoulder is turned to iho League, as it is to us, remember there are "wafm" hands at the other side, of the f' be grasping yours. " After all this coun- ' has been created as much without its ; vernmehts, and sometimes despite its Governments, as with them. '' * ' Sir Joseph Ward, . who followed, was equally, applauded. He referred to the teaching of the Empire's history m New Zealand, and that boys were trained to use '^he rifleMr Churcbll started, to attend, but wrote regretting tliat he had been re-called tbe Colonjal Office on urgent business. Nearly gne tliqusand were present at the Austral Clubs reception of the Premiers..'

At the Chamber of Commerce banquet to the. Premiers six hundred guests were present. Sir Joseph Ward, replying to the toast of "Parliaments of the Empire," said every great national community should nave a voice m the management of the Empire He askedi "Ts it not worth im.' pressing those who do not see eye to eye with us on preference that we should carefully consider tlie possibility and potentialities of our great Empire?" Mr Deakin, replying to the toast of ""Consolidation* of tne Empire," promised the Chamber of Commerce delegates the heartiest welcome to Australia when they attended the Conference m 1909. Their voyage would soon dispel apprehension as to Australia. Sentimental sympathy with the Motherland's trade had made the Empire's trade, and must continue to maintain iti; therefore -the voice of the trader should be the first to receive public attention. '"'Can you not, trust yourselves,'' he asked, "to make bargains with- your own kith and kin?" *..: ".