COLONIAL PREMIERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 102, 20 June 1911, Page 5

COLONIAL PREMIERS.

SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD. By Electric Telegraph—Copyright United Press Association. (Received 20, 8.15 a.m.) London, June 19. Speaking, at tho luncheon to the overseas Prime Ministers at tho Constitutional Club, Sir Joseph Ward slid when he left Now Zealand, though ho belonged to a particular party, ho represented every party in the Dominion, and while in London, ho and his colleagues at the Imperial Conference were non-party politicians. He, too, cherished Mr Balfour’s dream in regard to tho Empire of the future. He recognised that in peace time tho Motherland did not require the assistance of tho overseas Dominions, but in time of trouble they must all stand together. The dominions were less dependent than formerly on material assistance from the Motherland, at the same time there was a possibility of great dangers in years to come unless they had some system of giving the dominions a more direct voice in tho direction of Imperial concerns. As an outcome of the interchange of views at tho Imperial Conference, however, some good ought to ho achieved. Sir Joseph Ward said he heartily agreed with Mr Balfour’s statement that, there ought, in great Imperial affairs, to"be no such thing as party interests ;tbe responsibilities were too big. If they expected to do something for the general good they must educate their people imperially, and get them to act Imperially. From that standpoint he believed that the visit from the overseas dominions to tho Motherland could not fail to make for tho advantage of the common Empire. , 1