OUTLOOK BRIGHT

Southland Times, Issue 20013, 29 October 1926, Page 7

OUTLOOK BRIGHT

SEEKING UNITY CONFERENCE’S WORK EXCELLENT RESULTS ACHIEVED NO TROUBLE FROM SOUTH AFRICA (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Rec. 9.20 pan.) London, October 27. The first sitting to-day of the Inter-Im-perial Relations Committee under Lord Balfour’s chairmanship has done much to confound the proposers of Imperial disruption. On the whole the Press here has not given undue prominence to General Hertzog’s early declaration about South Africa’s independent status ceasing to be a matter of dispute, but there are indications that some foreign countries have been given a picture of General Hertzog as the Conference’s stormy petrel, intent upon raising insuperable problems. However, the atmosphere at this afternoon’s round table conversational discussions did not even mildly support such a view. ,r We haven’t got down to tin tacks, but there is not the slightest reason to expect any serious trouble will arise,” was one dominion representative’s comment to-night. Other assurances were that everything was going most happily, quite in line with General Hertzog’s Amsterdam interview. Indeed, a scrutiny of his half a dozen speeches in London finds the phrase “within the Empire” several times inferable, if not in actual words. Those in close touch with official circles share the optimism that this seemingly thorniest problem of the Conference will not require the use of gardening gloves. They are more convinced that General Hertzog’s second thoughts have more to do with trade than with international diplomacy. Even the Research Committee’s discussions to-day revealed South Africa as the keenest advocate of Empire exchange in all branches of research calculated to help dominion producers of raw materials. It is freely said that whether in the Conference chamber or the committee rooms the spirit of the other dominions’ representatives has done much to assure the South Africans that the sentiment of General Hertzog’s Telegraaf interview can be accommodated without straining the bonds of unity. It is understood that Lord Balfour’s handling of the Inter-Imperial Committee has been a model of tact. General Hertzog’s abstention from several social functions arranged in honour of dominion visitors caused the impression to get abroad that he was suffering from political shyness and prefers the privacy of a hotel. Apart from his own official announcement that he must conserve his health, those in daily contact with him say General Hertzog is the reverse of this impression. He is most genial in the Conference room and most affable in debate. Nevertheless, he is a man wrestling with a difficult situation. Intimate friends declare he is in duty bound to say something to placate the back-veldters but even they know, as he does, which hand feeds them by trade, and recognise what a force the Empire is in creating and protecting their markets. Well informed observers suggest that extreme South African opinion can be met by the Union’s right to conclude its own commercial treaties and by a wider use of commercial commissions in foreign countries. It is suggested that

General Hertzog will not find the commissioners hostile to reasonable asper&tions in in this direction if they do not clash with the principle of Empire preference. After discussing foreign relations the dominion Premiers sat late this afternoon deliberating in what form they should reply to the League of Nations Council’s invitation as a result of Sir Austen Chamberlain’s representations that each mandatory should state its views on the mandates commission’s voluminous questionnaire. It is not impossible that a joint reply will be eent firmly intimating that many of the subjects traversed in the questionnaire are regarded as wholly within the mandatories’ administration. Later representations may be made to the Council session through Sir Austen Chamberlain that the dominions, while welcoming the closest examination of their work, do not appreciate the extension of that scrutiny to their domestic affairs. It is understood that, mention was made of the possibility of an attempt to have Germany nominated to the Mandates Commission. Opinion outside the Conference is that this is unlikely to be successful because of the recognition of the impossible position it would create. This opinion is bound to be shared by France, whose bloc vote on the League Council is equally certain to be used as a safeguard. —A. and N.Z. ECONOMIC COMMITTEE MEETS. INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH REVIEWED. London, October 27. The Imperial Conference did not meet to-day. Useful and far-reaching work was accomplished by the Prime Ministers’ Committee on economics, and by a sub-commit-tee which is dealing with statistics, with a view to imperial co-ordinatitm in research regarding future problems. It was demonstrated that the Empire needs such investigations more than any other group of countries, owing to its vast requirements and the diversity of its products and climates. The committee will decided whether machinery for securing such co-ordination and necessary data does not need strengthening, including the interchange of inter-imperial investigators as well as information, since it is felt that adequate research is a sound capital investment, in view of the inestimable frotentialities of the scheme. The members of the committee learned with interest of the extraordinary results of investigation in the Crown colonies and protectorates, which are only known locally; also of Australia’s experiments in food preservation for export ; New Zealand’s campaign against fruit pests; Canada’s campaign against 'tuberculosis; and India’s agricultural and veterinary researches. The scope of the work will shortly necessitate the committee appointing sub-committees to deal with various branches. The Conference to-morrow will discuss air communications, and the delegates will visit the Admiralty on Friday to discuss the naval policy. The Mandates Committee also sat. —A. ■and N.Z. SOUTH AFRICA’S CLAIM. I-3IPIRKS UNITY THREA'PENFT). (Rec. 8.5 p.m.) London, October 27. Sir Henry Page-Croft, the Commoner, opening the Empire Industries Association’s campaign at Stratford, stated that at a moment when it was abundantly clear that Britain’s life as an exporting nation depended upon the Empire, General Hertzog had made a claim for indefrendent national status for South Africa which, if granted, would mean a dissolution of the Empire. He did not believe General Hertzog’s demand really represented South Africa, for persistence therein would entail a breakup of the South African Union. It was largely the fault of British Governments and electors that such sentiments should be expressed. It was upwards of a generation since Cape Colony gave preference to Britain, yet until two years ago Britain had not responded. Even now her policy was niggardly and unworthy of the apcrit of Empire.—A. and N.Z. MR COATES HONOURED. London, October 27. Mt Coates will be presented with the Freedom of the City on Stoke-on-Trent in honour of New Zealand’s trade with the town. —A. and NLZ.

MR SPEAKER’S RECEPTION. A BRILLIANT FUNCTION. (Bee. 85 pjn.) London, October 27. There was a brilliant gathering to-night at the Speaker’s reception to the Imperial Conference delegates and visiting Dominion Parliamentarians at the Speaker’s house.— A. and NX MR COATES INVESTIGATES DAIRY CONTROL. INTERVIEW WITH PRINCE OF WALES. (Rec. 85 pjn.) London, October 27. Mr Coates to-day was a guest at a luncheon of the directorate of the Times. He is maintaining daily contact with the Dairy Board both in New Zealand and London as a result of the threatened system of price control. It is learned that Mr Coates yesterday had a very pleasant chat with the Prince of Wales, who showed the closest knowledge of and the keenest interest in New Zealand and her special problems. The Duke of York’s forthcoming tour was also discussed. —A. and NX