The Daily News. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER, 3, 1926. THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1926, Page 6

The Daily News. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER, 3, 1926. THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

The very full statement made by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) of the principles which will govern his actions at the approaching Imperial Conference as the representative of this Dominion will, ou the whole, commend themselves to the people of New Zealand. Perhaps of necessity the speech consisted to a large extent of generalities, and especially was this the case in regal'd to the two important subjects of inter-imperial migration and inter-imperial trade. Mr. Coates, very rightly, claims that he must attend the. conference untrammelled by any “instructions” from Parliament, and as he has definitely promised, as a condition of this liberty of action, that any matters vitally affecting this Dominion will be subject to ratification by its Parliament, the fiercest critic of the Premier’s demand for. a free hand can scarcely ask for a further safeguard. In regard to the status of New Zealand in the Empire’s Councils, Mr. Coates showed some sense of proportion, and his statement that “what influence this small country may be able to wield in the Council of the Empire shall be on the side of Imperial Unity” will meet with general approval. As regards Imperial Defence, the Prime Minister was, wisely, extremely cautious in liis utterances. His contention that New Zealand is bearing less than her fair share of the cost of naval defence is probably correct. Jhie difficulty is to ensure that any- increased expenditure will not be swallowed up in works and experiments that may take the country no further on the road to security. On this Mr. Coates proposes to accept the advice of the Imperial authorities, subject, of course, to the concurrence of the New Zealand Parliament. In his whole-hearted support of the Singapore naval base the Premier undoubtedly expresses the views of the great majority of his fellow countrymen. As regards migration throughout the Empire, Mr. Coates’ speech was somewhat involved. Apparently there is to be no increase in the number of assisted migrants from Great Britain to this Dominion unless certain financial arrangements can be made with the Home authorities whereby schemes of land settlement or afforestation in New Zealand can be inaugurated, thereby enabling this country to absorb more immigrants than at present. It must be perfectly obvious to any thinking individual that this country can. and ought to have a much larger population than at present, and it is sincerely to be hoped that its representative at the conference will show no timidity in regard to this important element in the Dominion’s expansion. As regards inter-imperial trade the Prime Minister’s speech was platitudinous, and it is possible that he will fiifd on closer intercourse with manufacturers in Great Britain that their alleged conservatism in meeting the requirements of the oversea Dominions is not so greatly in evidence. At all events the whole community will share the Premier's hope that the work of the newly formed Department of Scientific. Research may prove of assistance in fostering trade within the Empire. That the subject bristles with difficulties Mr. Coates himself admits, and so long as each Dominion insists upon its right to erect - tariff walls against the introduction of goods from other Dominions which compete with those of its own production or manufacture, it is difficult to see how any marked improvement can be made. There is, at all events, everything to gain by a round-table discussion of the problem at a gathering such as the conference itself. The community will also share the Prime Minister’s desire that the vexed question of wireless communication with the Homeland shall be speedily settled. There is little doubt that New Zealand has lagged behind other portions of the Empire in her use of this additional “hand maid of civilisation” and the sooner the way is cleared to a comprehensive service the better. In his remarks regarding the League of Nations, Mr. Coates was vaguest of ail, the subject being dismissed with a short explanation of the reason why the New Zealand Parliament had not been asked to ratify the Locarno Treaty this session, and a general, statement that New'’ Zealand as regards the League would stand “by the side of Great Britain.” Possibly examination of the question has convinced Mr. Coates that a closer study of it at first hand is necessary before he commits himself and the Dominion to any statement of policy in regard thereto, Speaking broadly, Mr, 'Coates Indicates that he goes to the conference with the intention of following the policy initiated by the late Mr, Massey, and his fellow countrymen Of every political creed will sincere-

ly hope that he will have as much success as his predecessor in enhancing his own reputation as a statesman and of upholding the prestige of the Dominion whose special ambassador he is.