IMPERIAL MISSION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 35, 18 March 1914, Page 5

IMPERIAL MISSION.

IMPRESSIONS OF AUSTRALIA*. g Frofii a Special Correspondent LONDON, February 6» On February 2, at a meeting held by the Imperial Mission at the Co'nnaught Booms, Mr L. S. Amery, MP., and Mr Edgar Jones, M.P., spoke of their exj perienees in the Dominions which they' visited as members of the British Parliamentary party last year. Mr Page Croft, M.P., took the chair, supported by Lady Emmott, the Agents-General for British Columbia, New South "Wales, and Ontario, Mr Charles Bright, Sir George Denton, Admiral Sir E. JVemantle, Mr P. J. Hannon, Mr P. J. Hartnell, Colonel Holland, the Hon. J. G, Jenkinjs, the Hon. T. Mackenzie, the Hon. Sir j. M 'Call, Lt.Col. P. Pelletier, Mr j r W. Raymond, Sir T. Troubridge, Sir John Taverner, Sir W. Grey Wilson, and Mr Guy Croft, organising se'cretary of the Imperial Mission. ' The chairman said that Lord Emmott was unable to be present on account of an important engagement in the North of England. Lord Emmott had said that if the British Empire ever fell, it would be due to. lack of knowledge, and therefore lack of sympathy and imagination. The object of the Imperial Mission was to teach people of all classes in Great Britain what the Empire meant. The recent tour, of members of the Parliament at Westminster in Australia and New Zealand was a grand idea. ;

Mr Amery said that .the. Empire could not be built up on the idea that the people of England occupied a- position of permanent supremacy. All had equal rights and responsibilities. Imperial unity was the work of everyone, not only of statesmen. The capacity to understand the differences in the other Parliaments of the Empire, and to look at matters from the point of view of the Dominions, was absolutely necessary to closer Imperial union, and the Empire Parliamentary Association had given him and his colleagues an opportunity of coming into/personal relations with members of these Parliaments, and so learning to understand, them. Mr Amery had thought that Australia was a monotonous country, but found that he had been mistaken, £nd he thought that it was a country in which one would be glad to make a home. He was impressed by the greatness of Australia's possibilities. , He thought that the people did not show enough interest in its development, but was sure that expression of that interest would grow. Australians and New Zealanders showed ( a most impressive spirit in facing the responsibilities of national defence. They felt the importance of the defensive forces because of their effect on, the soeial and . moral welfare of the people, as well as on account of their military value. Whatever some newspapers in the United Kingdom might say, he hardly met, during the whole time that he was in Australia, a single person who was not heartily in favour -of their system of.'military training. (Cheers.)

Mr Edgar Jones said that British people could hardly'yet realise the vast areas of unbounded wealth ie the Dominions waiting for capital, population, and development. He had been asked: —"Why cannot we get enough capital to develop our country?" and his opinion was that too much capital could not be poured ilto the Dominions. There might be a temporary set-back now and then, but it could not be permanent, He had made this statement to workmen. Capital in the Dominions meajit greater prosperity for them and us. But what the Dominions wanted even more than capital was more people, especially those of the British stock. (Cheers.) He was glad that the word " Colonies " was being dropped, because it misrepresented the great communities which had a life as completely developed as our own. The Dominions were nations, and they were proud of the fact, and the feeling was all for the good of the Empire. Sir John Taverner, seconded by Mr J. W. Raymond (N.Z.), moved a vote of thanks to Mr Amery and Mr Jones, and said that only a fringe of the over : sea Dominions had been developed, ancj more British capital was needed to continue the work.