PREMIERS CONFER.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14452, 26 May 1911, Page 5

PREMIERS CONFER.

r AN DII'J'MtIAL COUNCIL'. ftltt J. G. WARD'S I'HOI'OSAIj. Press Association —By Tel.—Copyright. LONDON, May 24. Sir Joseph Ward moved the appointment of an Imperial Council on the. gronnds of Imperial unity, organised Imperial defence, un equal distribution of Uie burdens of dcfen'ee, and xop-re-scntation of the self-governing Dominions In tho Imperial Parliament, for determining peace or war, foreign policy and international treaties affecting the Empiro. Ho said that tho remarkable growth of tho overseas Dominions required tho gravest consideration of statesmen to prevent difficulties whitih might in future l>o almost impcsaiblo of settlement, but which bo dealt with while the populations were Limited. He believed that in 25 years the combined population of the overseas Dominions would exceed that of the United Kingdom, Those controlling tho Empire's destinies would have to consider the expansion'of tho units, and all were cleeply concerned in their maintenance. Some loose form of federation was now kept together by sentiment. The experience of tho United States showed what tremendous changes might take place in regard to nationality. ' He believed they would have to face such a problem, owing to the attractiveness of the ovorseas Dominions for settlement to pcoplo of-.different languages from, our own. Unless tho Question of emigration and immigration were, treated imperially, and anxious care taken to keep our people- within tho Empire, cur future strength might ba dissipated and tho best of the population spread amongst alien countries. Tlio debate was adjourned to Thursday.

HAPPY CANADA. In - the course of liis address at the opening of tlio Conferenpe Mr Asquith allud'ed to tliis subject, saying that there were proposals on the agenda advising some closer political union' in tho shape of an .Advisory Without offering an opinion, ho ventured to observe that they should not lose sight of the value of elasticity and flexibility in. the Imperial organisation. Ho trusted that the Imperial Government would be able to offer acceptable suggestions with regard to the constitution of the Colonial Office regarding segregation and concentration of work appropriate to the Dominions from other work of the department.

Sir Wilfrid ; Laurier said ho represented a country wjfaioh. had no grievances and very few suggestions to make. Canadians were satisfied' with their lot. He approached his colleagues' suggestions with an open mind. He reco-gnised the truth of the principle that tfhe British Empire can aiid ought to live in Imperial unity, based on local autonomv.