NEW ZEALAND DINNER.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13288, 17 May 1907, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND DINNER.

ADDRESS BY SIR J. G. WARD

Copyright,—May 16th, 10.44 p.m.

LONDON, May 16.

At the New Zealand dinner at the Hotel Cecil, Lord Ranfurly, Sir Gerard Smith, Dr Fitchett, Mr G. G. Stead, Mr John Duthie, Mr James Mills, and Mr Beetham were among the 200 present. Mr W. P. Reeves, in presiding, said that New Zealand had a dozen commercial trading strings to her bow, all tending to her prosperity; the only disadvantage was distance.

Sir J. G. Ward voiced' the policy of the empire of the future. He said that when he'appealed-to the Imperial Conference to put their shoulder to the wheel by quickening and .cheapening eommuirication, extreme individualistic or protectionist doctrinaires might object to co-operating ; but the Empire had beein built by practical men. Sir J. G. Ward sympathetically referred to the illness of the Hon. W. Hall-Jones. Sir J. G. Ward added that it had been impossible for him to subscribe to the principle of devolution in naval defence, ■ owing to the great liabilities the colony would incur. Sir Joseph Ward, in speaking of the work at the Conference, said that a reduction of the distance between England and New Zealand to three week'; was no dream. It would pay New Zealand over and over again to subsidise to the extent of £IOO,OOO to secure such an Australasian-Vancouver line.If Britain assists Canada in obtaining such a line, therby cheapening food by bringing the producers) closer 1 to the. markets, the other Colonies would do their part.