EMPIRE PROBLEMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10104, 16 March 1911, Page 1

EMPIRE PROBLEMS.

COMMENTS OF PROVINCIAL NEWSPAPERS. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. ' LONDON, Mairch 15. A number of provincial newspapers favourably comment on Sir Joseph Ward's speech. The "Leeds Mercury," a Liberal organ, declares that New Zealand, is always to the forefront with freshening Ideas. The time is approaching when it will be necessary to establish an imperial body to administer the armed forces of the Crown. The "Yorkshire Observer,' in a Britical article, states that Sir Joseph Ward's proposal for an Imperial War Parliament to make the circuit of the ejitals of the Empire suggests Macaur's New Zealander on the ruins of ndon Bridge, nevertheless Britain's population ensures her dominant authority for many years. The' "Manchester Courier" says that New Zealand, with.a population Abe size of that of Lancashire, made sacrifices for the Empire unmatched throughout the dominions. The spirit of the Labour Party controlling politics in the Antipodes is very different , from that of the Labourites in the House of Commons, who regard the defence of the country as a form of jnilitarism lunacy.

j COMMERCIAL TREATIES. I LONDON, March 15. i The " Times " says that it is not surprised at Sir Wilfrid Laurier's agitation for Canada's liberation from the most favoured nation treaties in order to seek facilities to enter into arrangements with other dominions or foreign countries offering satisfactory 'reciprocal terms. This suggests recognition of the imperative need for adequate machinery to deal with Imperial questions. Unless such machinery should be provided the different portions of tho Empire will be in danger of adopting partial solutions which possibly it will be difficult to mutually reconcile. Though the time, perhaps-, was not ripe for such a comprehensive scheme as Sir Joseph Ward's, the matter was engaging growing attention in the Motherland.