OVERSEAS DELEGATES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14050, 21 July 1916, Page 6

OVERSEAS DELEGATES.

LONDON GATHERINGS. SPEECH BY SIR J. CARROLL. NEED FOR CLOSER UNION. LONDON, July 6. The Overseas High Commissioners entertained the visiting members of Parliament at a dinner last night at Claridge's. Sir G. H. Perky, Canada, Mr. W. P. Schreiner, South Africa, and Sir Thomas Mackenzie, New Zealand, welcomed the guests. Mr. Fisher was absent at Plymouth awaiting the arrival of th© Australians. Mr. Bonar Law, Secretary of State for the Colonies, proposing the toast of "The Visitors," frequently paid tributes to the magnifipent efforts of the Dominions. He was /glad of the opportunity to say that never m the Empire's history had the Mother .Country done so well. "The Germans," he said, "reguavcled us as a decadent natiqn, but our early 'contemptible little army' had helped to stem the 'German advance, nr.d largely assisted m saving Paris. ■ We have heard more of the doings of the Dominion soldiers than the soldiers of thej United Kingdom; but it has not caused a trace of jealousy. -' We can trust the soldiers. They will not fail. A great' responsibility rests on those remaining at home. British, people h<ive shown generous patriotism. It was said we could not, approach tho workingclasses except through their pockets. 'I never believed that. They have given freely of their best. . '■". . "When compulsion was considered necessary we. threw -m OAir whole strength. Th c ' bravery of our troops will see tlie struggle to the end. The General Staff is satisfied with the results so; far. I am confident that the same policy which has built up the Empiro slowly will be equally successful on tho battlefield. Our staying power is increasing' monthly." , The Lord .Mayor entertained the representatives of the; Overseas Parliaments at dinner at the Mansion House to-night. The Australians arrived at Paddington during; the evening, and went straight to the Mansion Hnuse. There were 300 guests, including Lord Milner, Lord Burhham, Lord Enimott, Lord Islington, Lord Desborou_!i, T ,i>rd Stemfordham, Lord Sandhimsf . Lord Blyth, the Earl:' of Beauchamp, the Marquis of Lincolnshire, and Lord Sydenham. f The Lord Mayor proposed the toast of .''The; Visitors." He said that although it was strictly a business vist it was appropriate, the city should extend a welcome. ' Among the speakers was Sir James Carroll, New Zealand, who said : "The Overseas Dominions have only performed their duty at the Mother's cry. The Dominion soldiers were thirsting to bo m the battlefields with you. ,We com* here to submit the views of the Dominions and to ask you to work together with us to study the possibilities of closer union, better trade relations, and to improve th© social fabric. We hope before \v© leave to come, to .-.'an understanding towards the co-ordination of the , component ■ parts of the Empire, otherwise our visit will be valueless." (Cheers.)