WHITEHALL DINNER.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13810, 22 January 1909, Page 5

WHITEHALL DINNER.

WELCOME TO -I.ORD NORTHCOTE

Press Association-By Telegraph-Copyright LONDON, Jan. 20.

Lord Northcote, in continuing..' his speech at the complimentary banquet at Whitehall, said there was plenty.of land in Australia for generations . for steady, sober, hardworking men. He gave instances of what he had personally seen in West Australia, New South Wales, Queensland,. and Mildura, where splendid land had been rendered available by individual efforts, aided by State irrigation. .Whatever were the merits or demerits of Mr Deakin's defence scheme, it ought ■ to be recognised as unselfish, inasmuch as it assumed larger obligations than were imposed under, the old Regarding tlie.On§cal qtiestibn, he said that without entering into controversies, he would emphasise' the fact that Australia '.was growing protectionist, and was determined to protect her -manufactures against outside competition. Therefore, it was impossible to ahtiei- ; pate the of anything resembling a. commercial zollverein . between Britain'and the colonies, or as far as Australia was concerned, on a basis of equal access to. colonial markets. He eulogised the grim pluck Australia had shown in . the ' development of the country. He thought the relations of capital and labour might be considerably improved, - lhit he had no desire to be the censor of a.country which had received him with so,much kindness. It was generally desirable that more public men should visit Australia and study the colonies. He spoke of the great advantage to the Empire if the Colonial Office arranged for an interchange of officials, allowing some of its staff to take service in the colonies.

The Right Hon. Alfred. Lyttelton proposed the health of the chairman. The Earl of Crewe, Secretary of State for the Colonies, in responding, promised to consider the possibility of an interchange of officers. In eulogising the speeches, he agreed that Australia's chief problem was the need for men. .Once this was solved, other needs would prove secondary.