Second Edition OVERSEAS VISITORS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 103, 21 June 1911, Page 6

Second Edition OVERSEAS VISITORS.

BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIAN DINNER. By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. United Press Association. (Received 21, 8.5 a.m.) London, June 20. Captain 11. Heaton Rhodes, ALT'., New Zealand, responding at the Parliamentarians’ dinner to overseas parliamentarians, said that when the repi osentatives of the Dominions, as backwoodsmen, returned to the hush and wielded the axe or mustered their flocks, they would look back to that kindly gathering within those ancient walls, and Lord Rosebery’s_ eloquence would ring in their ears. They came to pay .allegiance to the King, who was no* stranger to them. He was known throughout the Empire as no British Sovereign had been known before. The speaker said- ho looked rorwaid to welcoming the Prince of AVales when, following in his father’s footsteps, he set out to tread the path of the Empire. (Cheers.) Throughout the Dominions it was recognised Unit the Motherland had demanded nothing of them in the past, but . had given them protection and made enormous sacrifices far them, and though under her protection they blossomed forth young nations, they had no desire to become separate nations. (Cheers.) He realised fully what their fate would ho .under such circumstances. Their desire was rather to draw , tighter the bonds of Empire. Sir Joseph Ward’s scheme of an Imperial Council had not been adopted; perhaps it was premature, but it was surely not too'high an ideal to aim at. (Cheers.) The Dominions felt hound to share the burdens of tlio Empire, but felt in doing so they must nave a voice in the settlement of foreign questions affecting their destinies. Lord Rosebery had asked v what were the Dominions’ messages to the Mother Country ? He ventured to formulate a reply: “Wo. desire not to he shareholders of the great company, of Empire, hut partners.” (Cheers. )) Mr. Molfcuo, Speaker of the South African Parliament, emphasised the entire absence, of election petitions in South Afri in. There was perfect smoothness, and they had had a strenuous Parliamentary session. Racialism was a thing of the past. The best form of patriotism in the Dominions was for each to keen their own house in order, and make their own corner of the Empire strong. The strength of individual Parliaments was strength of the whole. That being so, ho thought South Africa had iron tlrj Empire’s confidence. (Cheers.)