THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 249, 27 February 1911, Page 5

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

FAREWELLING OUR DELEGATE. ■ By Telegraph.—Trets Association. Christchurch, Saturday. i A deputation consisting of Messrs. F, E. Jones, president of tht Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, A. Kaye, W. D. Meares, H. J. Marriner, W. Wood, J. G. Moore, and Royds, waited on Sir Joseph Ward to-day. Mr. Jones said that the deputation, as representative the business community, wished to' say "good-bye" to Sir Joseph on the eve of his departure for the Imperial Conference. The members of the deputation hoped that the conference would attain a successful issue, and that Sir Joseph would have a safe return. There might be differences of opinion as to how the Dominion and the Empire could best he pushed along, but all people were of the one opinion that it was for the good of the world that the great British Empire should be brought closer and closer together. The history of the Empire taught the lesson that mistakes had been made, and there was no doubt that if Imperial conferences had been held in the past it would have been much better for the Empire. Sir Joseph Ward said that he thoroughly appreciated the kindness shown to him, and he realised the high value of the conference and also the difficulty of one generation seeing far ahead into the life of another generation. It was easy to look back at history apti to judge how easy it might have bun to avoid mistakes, but it was hard to anticipate things. As Mr. Jones had suggested, it was an excellent thing to bring representatives of the outlying parts of the Empire together to protect the interese of all. He thanked /then. again for their good, wishes to himself.