Two Premiers Honoured.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 41, 21 May 1907, Page 5

Two Premiers Honoured.

A TRIBUTE TO MR DEAKIN. London, May 18. Mr Deakin and Dr Jameson were given a tremendous reception at a crowded meeting of City men, held at the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange yesterday. In returning thanks, Dr Jameson said he was disappointed that the Imperial Conference had not made a decisive step forward in the direction .of the consolidation of the Empire. Whatever had been achieved was mainly due to Mr Deakin's energy, pluck, and eloquence. The substitution of the world "Imperial" instead of "Colonial" Conference meant the emancipation of the Conference from the cegis of the Colonial Office, and meant that future Conferences would be as between Governments, He regretted that effective machinery for the consolidation of the Empire had not been obtained, owing to the Secretariat, after the hardest fight at the Conference, remaining a Department of the Colonial Office. He was convinced that the present arrangements would prove such a failure that the I Premiers would obtain efficient machinery at the next Conference.

Dr Jameson argued that both sentimental and material links were required to cement the Empire. He complained the Government had not attempted to answer the , Premiers' case for preference. It had oniy knocked down bogies of its own erection. He believed the Government were afraid to make even a little experiment in the direction of reciprocal trade because it would prove a success, Mr Deakin emphatically denied that the Premiers had in the slightest degree attempted to embarrass the Government from party or political motives. No reciprocity was possible unless preference was mutual. Australia was prepared to build her half of the bridge to the centre arch, where she must await the Motherland's approach before the keystone was dropped which would complete the structure. Many of the arguments which had been advanced to prevent tariff reform were absolutely contrary ' to Australian experience.