Britain and her Colonies.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11734, 11 September 1902, Page 5

Britain and her Colonies.

Press Associ at i on—Telegraph—Copyright. Received September 10, 9.30 a.m. OTTAWA, September 9. Sir Edmund Barton was banquetted at Montreal by the Earl of Minto. Three hundred leading commercial people were present. Sir Edmund Barton denied that he intended to accept tne Appellate Judgeship. Received September XI, 0.56 a.m. OTTAWA, September 1. At the Montreal banquet Sir Edmund Barton said the Imperial Conference expressly affirmed the principle of trade pre<ferehce. The autonomous colonies will do their best to give substantial' preferences to British products, trusting to the United Kingdom to as far as possible seize such opportunities as arise and give return. No member of the Conference tried to lay down a hard and fast rule, or demand an eye for an eye. Sir John Forrest said Canada and Aus tralia were bound to vastly increase in population, and would demand a voice in the policy of the Empire beyond the seas. If they -n ere unwilling *o contribute towards Imperial defence they would be unable to ask or have a say. So far as Australia is concerned he would not be afraid to speak out.

Lord Minto, in his speech, said that surely if the Motherland pledged herself to support her dependencies to her last mao she might fairly claim seme care for tho efficiency of their military organisations. That could best be obtained by strict recognition of the colonial forces as territorial armies for the defence of their own possessions, garrisoning the parts of the Empire to which they belonged, but should let the garrisons upon whose commanders, organisations., and efficiency the Imperial Goverament may justifiably rely in time of war(?)

Lord Minto's declaration is considered likely to provoke a crins with Sir W. Laurier, and will be followed by the general election arranging the French Canadians against the English provinces.