AUSTRALIA ANS EMPIRE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 268, 4 April 1913, Page 5

AUSTRALIA ANS EMPIRE

LUNCHEON TO MR. WATT. AN IMPERIALISTIC SPEECH. DEFENCE AND TRADE MATTERS. ' By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, Apr:l 2. Earl Grey presided at the Colonial Institute luncheon to Mr. Watt, Premier of V ictoria. Amongst those who attended were Lord Eminott, Sir Joseph Ward, Captain Collins and the A"entsGeneral. \

Mr. Watt said Australians were earnestly developing their country. Their loyalty was unquetioned. He thought the Li'itish press might do more lo cieate Home interest in the junior partners of the Empire, lie deprecated the idea that immigrants were lost to the Empire; they were only transmuted, and strengthened the Empire in every part. He was certain that any diversity of opinion as to the control of the naval units would disappear in the tanpile's hour of danger.

Received 3, 10.3(1 p.m. London, April' 3. Mr. Watt went on to say that be thought the Dominions of the Empire should have offices located centrally in London, where their resources should be displayed. He hoped tl.at the Empire Trade Commission would find means to improve inter-Imperial trade without violating (lie politic views of the different parts. Tts labors would perhaps result in the creation of a permanent body that would help to guide trade between kith and kin. While it was important to know whether the Australian and Canadian navies were to be locally controlled or by the Admiralty, it was more important to know that ships were being built, and that when their guns spoke it would be in defence of British interests. He trusted that diverse opinions oyer the question of control would disappear when co-operative action was necessary.

- .■TJife speech luul fin excellent reception. Lord F.mmotl snid that Mr. Watt's •speech was instinct with true Imperialism. The virile people of Australia were working out great economic problems and problems of federalism which might lielp Britain in tlie future.