HONOUR TO COLONIAL STATESMEN.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12746, 18 March 1910, Page 2

HONOUR TO COLONIAL STATESMEN.

! i'RESS ASSOCIJTION — COPTEIOHT.J London, March 16. The Lord Mayor presided at a luncheon to Mb- W. J. Moore. Premier of Western Australia, at the Fishmongers' Hall. Among the 125 guests present were Sir Gerald Smith (ex-Gor-ernor of West Australia) Sir Chas. Lucas (of the Colonial Office), AgentsGeneral, and other well known colonials. In proposing Mr Moore's health theLord Mayor said that his record as Premier would be quite worthy of comparison with that of any of his predecessors. He referred to the great growth of West Australia's agricultural possibilities, which in great measure was due to Mir Moore's work. Mr Moore, in reply, said that he was highly gratified at the presence of representatives of the commercial banking and mining sections of the West Australian community. Perhaps the most important duty of his Government was to foster immigration, and m that he hoped to be able to cooperate with Sir George Raid. His State desired to encourage Englishmen and other Europeans who were prepared to go on to the soil and assist in developing the country. His great territory wanted capital and population, and must look to the Old Country for them. J In proposing the health of the Chairman, Sir George Reid, High Commissioner for Australia, emphasised Ausititolias need for immigrants, who I would be a far better investment for England than money. "The Times" hopes that Lord Crewe s remarks at the banquet to Sir George Reid foreshadows that the affairs of overseas dominions are coming under the immediate cognisance of the Premier. Sir George Reid, concluding his speech, added that he might say another thing, namely, that an insinuation to the effect that Australia's loyalty was mixed with the fiscal question and depended on the Motherland's answer to the questions of preference and reciprocity was an unfounded slander. (Cheers.) Any new departure must b:. bar.cd upon the conviction that it embodied the advantage of strengtheninp of the Motherland and Australia alike. Australians would scorn it if it tt-,2 at the expense of the Motherland.