“ABOVE PARTY.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17350, 15 May 1924, Page 12

“ABOVE PARTY.”

IMPERIAL INTERESTS. STATEMENT BY COLONIAL SECRETARY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, May 14. The Colonial Secretary. Mr J. H Thomas, speaking at- a dinner given to Mr Theodore. Premier of Queensland. at the Hotel Cecil, made an important statement in reference to Imperin 1 Conferences. Mr Thomas said: “I know it- is a delicate subject, but I believe it better to speak of things that ought- to be discussed than merely of pleasant things. J recognise that there are many people in Britain and the dominions who are anxious, indeed, apprehensive, about the outcome of the British Government’s action in turning down, even ruthlessly, the* recommendations solemnlv arrived at. by the Imperial Conference. But it- would be only blind party politics to assume that thero is only one side to such questions. There are two. and I want to face them.

“ I believe it was a mistake to bring the dominion Prime Ministers to deliberate and reach conclusions with the Government here when there was a danger of their conclusions being repudiated, either hero or in tlieir own dominions. This happened in reference to the last Imperial Conference through a change in Government here. Steps i should be taken to prevent a recurrence.

“ I have no -watertight solution to offer.” the Minister added. “ hut l think party feeling could be avoided if. instead of only Prime Ministers attending the conferences, leaders o? the recognised official Oppositions in the Empire were also to attend, with the result that united, instead of party, decisions could be reached. Questions ••f Imperial concern and of-Empire development should lie lifted out of the realm of party politics. That is the spirit in which I am seeking to administer the Colonial Office." Mr Thomas added that he rejoiced at the settlement of the dispute between the Queensland Government an 1 london financial circles. He confessed that he. had been most apprehensive about the matter when Mr Theodore arrived, because he believed failure to roach a settlement and a decision on the part of any dominion to seek outside the Empire financial assistance available within it, would have been a blow from which it would have been difficult for the Empire to recover. Mr Theodore, in proposing Mr Thomas's health, paid a tribute to his conspicuous assistance towards the recent settlement. When ho came to London. the Queensland Premier said, lie found the views of the Queensland Government and those in London financial circles as far apart as the Poles, but the exercise of sound commonsense on the part of all concerned, personal intercourse and the mest frank discussion of tho issues involved, had led to them completely overcoming the differences which had existed lor four years. Mr Theodore said that the people of Dritaiu and the more distant dominions, who had lost much through wide separation, must learn to make reasonable allowances for different viewpoints and mutually give credit fr» the bona firlos of other parties. He declared that Australia's population and trade were not increasing as fast as they ought, consequently Australia was unable to play the part she should in the British commonwealth of nations. The chief reason was that. Australian development .hitherto had boon confined to Southern Australia. Halt of Australia lay north of the twentyfifth latitude, and onlv contained 100.000 whites. \ Whit* Australia policy could not. l>e justified tmless use were made of this hugs empty

CANADIAN SUGGESTION.

OVERSEA MINISTERS IN LONDON. Reuter’s Teleerarus. OTTAWA. May 13. A telegram f.rom London. Ontario, says that Sir Robert Borden, a former Prime Minister, addressing a Canadian Women's Club, suggested bringing the operation by the appointment of resident Ministers in lint ain to voice the opinion of the dominions on Empire external affairs. One great difficulty so far in the way of greater unity of Empire had been the fact that the Mother Country held a sort of trusteeship for the administration of external affairs, but now that the dominions had begun to have n voice they must try to find means by which cadi separate part could express its desire.