BONDS OF EMPIRE

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13957, 17 July 1909, Page 7

BONDS OF EMPIRE

"DELEGATES FROM 1103 IE. "•By the first express from Christchurch yesterday morning there passed through, Timaru, two distinguished' visitors from Home —Sir Charles PrestTvood Lucas, K.C.M.G., C.8., and Air -Arthur A. Pearson, C.M.G. The visitors were met on arrival at the -station here, by Mr James Craigie, M.P., Councillors Sealcy and Sinclair, and Mr W. J. Bardsley, secretary to the •Timarn Harbour Board, and 3lr Craigie extended to- them a cordial welcome.

When_ they were in Christchurch' he Lad written invitiny them to spend the time between the two expresses, lore,-but this they were unable to do. In acknowledging the invitation sent fry Mr Craigie, Sir Charles wrote as follows:—"Mr Pearson and I are very grateful for your most kind telegram, and also for the letter from the secretary to the Harbour Board, sending plan and illustrations of the harbour. Wo pass through Timaru by the first express, but I fear that we cannot arrange to stay as you have so kindly suggested. Our time is-very limited, and we are anxious to reach Dunedih by the first train." •'..":• In welcoming the Imperial visitorsyesterday morning Mr Craigie expressr cd regret that they wert so pressed for time as to be nnable to spend a. few Lours at Timaru, and he assured that the people of Timaru would; have esteemed it an honour'to have enters tained them. Sir Charles acknowledged thfc- compliment with thanks, and reiterated lu's regret that lie and Mr Pearson had not a longer time at their disposal in New Zealand. ---This being the position Mr Craigie lost no time at using the few remaining minutes which the train stopped here, in pouring into the ears of tho visitors facts concerning Timaru and district, reference of course being made to the progressiveness of the town, the unrivalled artificial harbour, and the unexampled fertility of our soil. Passing on from this, Mr Craigie said: ''You are from the heart of the Empire and Ave are pleased to see you. Though you perhaps know it already, I may be permitted to say that we in New' Zealand are a very loyal people, patriotic, and proud of our race. We recognise the importance of the s»avy as the first line of defence, and we appreciate the fact that we must all pull gether. We strive to do our part and intend that nothing shall be wanting that we can supply. We are proiid of the British flag, and recognise that it must be the dominant flag until the arrival of the millennium, when there ■will he no more war or cause for war/"

Sir Charles that he and Mr Pearson had been very struck with the intense fee'aig o£ patriotism aud loyalty displayed both in Australia and New Zealand; and it was quite evident that we muft all stand together in the matter of defence. The train being: about to move on at this_ stage, the visitors again expressed their thanks for the reception accorded them, and said good-bye.

AN INTERVIEW. A "Herald" reporter who accompanied the Imperial delegation down the line as far as oiudiiolme, was courteously received by the visitors and given an outline of the reason of their visit to the Dominion, as well as their impressions of it. Sir Charles Lucas saidt " ,; We have come out in order to.facilitate communication between the Colonial Office and the Dominion by personally seeing and hearing conditions and views, and Governments and peoples in Australia and the Dominion of >iew Zealand. "We have been three months in Australia where we visited every State and spent more time than we intended in Melbourne and Sydney. We could not cover the ground with any greater despatch. We left Australia on July 3, and expect to remain in New Zealand until August 9. We received a most friendly welcome in Australia, and so far we have received an equally warm welcome in New Zealand."

Mr Pearson here added that if they accepted all the invitations they had received here it would be a very considerable time before they left these shores again. . Continuing, Sir Charles said that they wanted to obtain a clearer impression as to these young countries and their peoples. The idea of their mission originated with Mr Alfred Deakin, Federal Premier, at the last conference . of Premiers in London. ; It was recognised at Home that it was necessary to obtain first hand knowledge concerning the British over-sea possessions, and this, briefly stated, was the object of their visit. "We propose to spend a full month in New Zealand. We have been to "Wellington and Christchnreh, and are now on our way to Dunedin. ■ "We will probably spend two days sight-seeing at Queenstown and then. return to "Wellington and to Auckland. "We hope also to visit Eotorua. _ We proceed from New Zealand to Sydney, via Fiji and spend twelve days there, and we expect to reach England the first wqek in October, travelling back via Vancouver and Canada." " Yes we were glad to see so much ©f-your fine scenery, though the first object of our mission is to see men, and give or gain first hand information for tho guidance of our office at Home. As to our impressions. We havo only had ten days in New Zealand so far, but I that-we have beep most favourably impressed with what we , have seen. The cities as well as tftfei farms and the fields seem to speak-or I

prospcrit'v. We wish that we could make a longer stay in New Zealand. We can only carry away with us " first impressions." but these, very often, are best. We are told that we have come at a time when tho country is not at its best, but if the country/ looks so well in -mid winter, we can picture suniething of what it riuist be like in the brighter season of the year." '--"*' Yon ask about Australia and our impressions of that country? Well, we can only say that we were very .favourably impressed also with Australia, and in both countries we have received the greatest courtesy and hospitality. "We were given the utmost facilities for seeing Australia, and we Tiave- been given equal privileges in New Zealand. We were struck with the-immense size and prosperityof the great Continent, and we can picture what a very great future there is ahead of. Australia when it becomes peopled with n larger British population." "Sir Charles mentioned that he knew Sir Joseph "Ward. and. was sorry that their "visit coincided with his absence from the Dominion. Asked whether he would say anything concerning matters political Sir Charles at once made it plain that politics were strictly eschewed. They jjad, not come here to talk politics, but to assist in cementing the bonds of Empire. .■"ln a brief reference to the Imperial Press Conference Sir Charles said he thought this conference should b» productive of great good. He could imagine nothing better for the Empire than that representatives of the Press should periodically meet and take stock of each' others views.

Referring to the Colonial Office and the New Zealand High Commissioner's Office. Sir Charles said that the relations between the two offices had always been most friendly and cordial. The late High Commissioner for New Zealand,' Mr u. Pern her Beeves, was' a personal friend of his. He had only met the Hon. W. Hall-Jones- once or twice, and the latter had received him in the most cordial and friendly manner. ..." Do you find the New Zealauders and Australians patriotic," was a question addressed to Mr Pearson. The replv came quickly from both: ''•Oh I should think we did; there is no doubt about that. It is more in evidence in Australia and New Zealand than in England." As the reporter withdrew trom the carriage the visitors asked that it he made clear in the paper how much thev appreciated the courtesy of the ehWirman of tho Harbour Board, why thev understood was also the Mayor. They much regretted being unable to avail themselves of the invitation to ,«si't .Timaru on their return journey northwards, but considered it extremely kind of Mr Craigie to have invited them on behalf of the people of Tiniaru.

It mav be of interest to note that Sir P ,Charles Lucas was educated at Winchester College aud Balhol College, Qxford. He distinguished himself :n classics-at the "University, taking firstclass in the final classical schools and thei-Chancellor's prize for Latin essay. He-Va's called to the bar at Lincoln s Inn and entered the Colonial Office in 1877" He was private secretary to S'r R. Herbert in 1881, to Earl Granville in 1886, and again to Sir R. Herbert in 1886. He was chairman ot committee of the Emigrants' Information Office till 31st December, l»9b> and was appointed Assistant Under Secretarv of State in 1897. Sir Charles isv-author of '"Historical Geography of the British Colonies." ' -Mr A. A. Pearson, was educated at Rugby and entered the Colonial Office hi 1867. He has been Private Secretarv successively to the Earl of Carnarvon. Sir M. Hicks-Beach, Earl Cadogan,'and the Right Hon. if. E. Grant Duff. He represented the Crown Colonies at the Postal Conference, London, in 1898, was one of the British delegates at the Brussels Sugar Conference in 1901, and Assistant Delegate at the Permanent Sugar Comnussion at Brussels in 1903. Mr Pearson retired from the Colonial Office in 1906, but was specially appointed to the present mission.