PREMIERS CONFER.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14451, 25 May 1911, Page 5

PREMIERS CONFER.

THE OPENING SITTING. THE PRESS NOT ADMITTED. Press Association —By Tel.—Copyright, LONDON, May 23. Mr Ascjuith, speaking at tho ortening of the Imperial Conference, at the Foreign Office, heartily welcomed the delegates and brielly defined the scope of the Conference.

Mr Harcourt, Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr Buxton, PottmasterGcueral, and several other members, wero present. Tho crowd cheered the delegates as they entered tho building. The Conference sat for two hours and a half. Sir Asquith, in a speech lasting half an hour, made sympathetic, references to the lato Sir Edward Campbell' Bannerman. He emphasised the nonjprty character of the "conference. Fivo Premiers rplied. Tho Conference decided) to sit on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., and in tho afternoons if theTc was urgent business. . Sir Joseph Ward withdrew his resolution in. favour of the admission of tho Press. The other delegates considered that the' speaking' would he hampered by the presence of reporters. An official summary will be issued daily. Sir Joseph Ward moved his imperial Council resolution, aud had' not finished his speech at tho dose of the sitting. THE OPENING SPEECH. PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS. Received 9.25 p.m., May 21th. LONDON, May 24.

Mr Asq-uith 6aid,it was a happy coincidence tha* the time chosen for the Conference would enable the statesmen of tha Eolf-governing Dominions to take a personal part in the Coronation. The Empire was made up of countries not geographically conterminous or even contiguous. It did not even draw its unifying cohesive force solely from identity of race or language. They had here a political organisation which by its mere existence rules out the possibility of war between, populations numbering something like a. third of the human race. There were two things in the self-governing British Empire -unique in_ the history of great political aggregations; first, the reign of law, second, the combination, of local autonomy, absolutely unfettered, with loyalty to a common head. In the early Victorian era, there were.' two rough and ready solutions of tie colonial problem. One was centralisation, or government from, Downing street, the other disintegration, by which each community as it grew to -manhood would without embittermeut start an independent existence. After seventy years of Imperial evolution neither of these theories commanded the faintest support in any part of the Empire now. Each intended to remain master of its own household, to remain units, but units in greater 1 unity. Mr Fisher said he came to the Conference as a whole-hearted advocate-of conference, and gain would, accrue if they could meet, not only in the centre of the Empire but In tie' centres of the other Dominions. He earnestly appealed to Mr Asquith to take some strong steps to remedy the grave abuse affecting the commerce of the Empire and other countries in the shape of exorbitant Suez Canal charges. He hoped' the Government would afford the Dominions more expeditious access to trade reports from every part of the world* "Referring to the Defence scheme, he said that Australia desired to help in the preservation of tlie honour and greatness of the Mother Country, and would cheerfully' co-operate with the Mother Country, while protecting her own shores. The Commonwealth desired to assist an anything in the shape of international arbitration to preserve the psace of the world. SIR J. G. WARD. Sir J. G. Ward eulogised the late Sir Campbell-Bannerman's initiatory work, resulting in the consolidation of South Africa, which, while preserving local autonomy, was essential to make a step forward, if they wished to prevent the rise of disintegration. He recognised the necessity of elasticity in matters which might be- the outcome of the Conference. MR BOTHA. Mr Botha said lie was gratified at participating in the Conference, and was able to say that in South Africa, when so much discord had existed, and so much blood had flowed, concord and harmony now reigned. They were inspired with hope and courage for the future. ADDRESS TO THE KING. Sir Wilfrid Laun'cr moved, and Mr Fisher seconded an address of homage to the King, and this was carried. . QUESTION OF PUBLICITY. REASONS AGAINST IT. Sir J. G. Ward, in moving the admission of the Press., referred to the difficulty of obtaining information regarding the Conference, a difficulty wh:eh the Press was unable to control. Sir W. Laurier said the .last Conference arrangements were satisfactory. The people of New Zealand wore as well informed as the people of London or Canada. If the Press were admitted the deliberations would assume .the form of a. public discussion. Tt was necessary to preserve privacy.'They should publish results, but not differences of opinion. Mr Fisher sympathised with the resolution, hut said that if the Press withdrew when any particular subject was being discussed public attention would be markedly drawn to it. He suggested that confidential subjects should bo separated from the rest. Mr Botha opposed the motion. Mr Asqnith suggested that Sir J. G. Ward should not press the motion. He appreciated his reasons, but it must be remembered that the Conference did

not partake <ii' the nature ( ,f :i public mociing, and its usefulness would lie impaired if questions were not, discussed freely. Occasional exclusion of the Press would excite, curiosity, and pictures would bo drawn of conflicts within tho Conference.

or J. G. Ward, in view of the opiiirions expressed sai<l ho saw no elianeo <•[ carrying the motion, and withdrew

METHOD OF PROCEDURE. Mr Asquith explained that naval and military matters would lie discussed in committee of Imperial Defence where they would hare, tho ndvunta»o of experts' advice. It would also "probably lie desirable not to bring other technical subject; before tb 0 Conference until they had been discussed by tho overseas- rep-rcKcntatives and the Imperial Departments concern-ad.