IMPERIALISM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12099, 17 March 1910, Page 5

IMPERIALISM.

(Press Assn. — By Telegraph — Copyright)

LONDON, March 16. The Earl of Crewe, speaking at Sir George Reid's banquet, said that .the duties of, the Agent-General were m no wiso entrenched upon by Sir GeorgeReid's arrival. He thought that tuo comparison of the High Commissioner and the Agents-General to Ambassadors was singularly infelicitous. Ho preferred to regard them as Imperial statesmen, whose duties were, -partly, to look after that part of the Empire which they.' represented, but who were aslo able to givo opinions on many Imperial problems without party trammels. He thought it unlikely that the - present arrangements,, whereby the Secretary for the Colonies looked after the business connected with- tho oversea dominions and 'Crown colonies, would be permanent. A separation of the duties was probable within the near future. The idea of an Imperial Council could best be promoted by taking "the over-sea-dominion into conference, and; whenever tho interests of the dominions .were concerned with any diplomatic problem, placing the utmost confidence m tho statesmen of the. dominions. . Sir George Reid'^ iri'^replying, recalled the rich' stream of eirfigration wh'ch went to.; the Australian goldfields. Ho added that we libw saw the rising greatness of Australia m its . rapidly- increasing strength m industrial matters arid the growing volume of its trade— the magnificent dividend which Australia 'was rendering Tinder .British colonisation and, enterprise. The Australian system of government represented, perhaps, the greatest measure' of trust, m the people and of freedom for the community that to-day was visible on the world s face. The task of developing "thd Cimrm:iwealth was just as much" :u» '■' \ niporial task, as "that of eefclling home . i>i;)it.icul difficulties, and was a task which excited no, party difficulties. Impe/'tl and Qblonial Governments couid' umto m using their utmost influence to s-.HU;a .suitable. British" emigrants for the Empire's Dominions. ~ Many suggestions were being made for adding to tha ties of undoubted -affection now existing. In considering them statesmen's most anxious: task was that of reconciling the free play of self-interest with an enlightened regard for the Empire's welfi.-e. After mentioning/ amid cheers, -Australia's voluntary preference to' the Motherland, Sit George Reid remarked that he v(as bound to /add that there was, m Australia, a strong desire to 1 ; go further, and reach, a reciprocal arrangement-^(cheers) —but that desire Jiad never, as far as Jie C6uld ( ssee; got the length of : sacrificmg their own growing manufactures.

~, (Received March 17>8.2Q > a.m.) : ■■-■■. ■■ ■■■ LpNDipOSr, March 16. Sir George Reid, concluding, &sked might he say another thing, namely, that an. insinuation had been made that Aus.tralia's loyalty was- mixed .with the fiscal question, and depended . on the Motherland's answer to these questions of pre<« fereiice and reciprocity) was an unfounded slander. (Cheers.) Any. newdeparture was based on the' conviction that it embodied the advantage 'of strengthening the Motherland' and Australia alike/ Austmlitms scorii if it was at the exgertse of the Motherland. The Times hopes that thei Karl of Cie>ve's remark foreshadows the affairs of the dominions under the immediate cognisance of the Premier.