NAVIGATION CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10965, 7 May 1907, Page 4

NAVIGATION CONFERENCE.

■ .— ■ •♦ — BANQUET TO. DELEGATES.: ..SIR J. WARD'S~SUGGESTION APPROVED(Press Assn.— By Telegraph.— Copyright. ) (Received May 7, 7.34 a.m.) „-■■' ''■• LONDO'N, May 6. Mr Lloyd George "banqueted the Navigation Conference delegates at the Savoy .hotel. - ■ Sir Josepii Ward, in proposing Mr Lloyd George's health, paid a. high tribute to his presidency. He. firmly believed that as the outcome 0 f the conference the j various Governments would find- a. basis •' whence -all could work. He emphasised the importance of lowering the Suez Canal rates, : for vessels carrying perishable T»roduce and cheapening the cable rates to Australia -and New Zealand to sixpence, or at the most one shilling, per word. _ Mr Lloyd George, replying, Said he ! thought the results of the conference ad'fmirable. Sir Joseph Ward's, suggestions 'had greatly impressed the Government, which was giving them the deepest consideration. He hoped to be able to give ! a satisfactory answer before tlie Premiers I lefi- "as 'the suggestions couid be carried out' quite consistently -with the Govern- . ment's pledges of policy. He failed to see why the Imperial Government could not join the colonies in lessening the burden on British ships traversing the Canal. He would be surprised if something could not be done to get Sir Joseph Ward s proposal carried into effect. x , >■-