THE EMPIRE CONFERENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18259, 18 August 1921, Page 3

THE EMPIRE CONFERENCE.

(Continued from page 2.) —but until we cnange human nature I am airaid it win oe impossible to prevent war, much as we snould like io do it. ’I hen there is the Imperial Shipping Committee, set up m pursuance of a resolution passed at a previous imperial Conference. 1 refer to what is termed the Imperial Snipping Committee, but I understand it is only a temporary arrangement. In the first place, I thought it was to be a permanent organisation, but so farit is only temporary. Ido not know when its term of office comes to an end, but I do want to emphasise that the matter of communication between different parts of the Empire is probably one of the most vital things that this Conference could deal with. It is the old story of the highways. If we do not have good highways between different parts of the Empire, then we shall find ourselves in very serious trouble, and there is a very great deal of dissatisfaction at present with the manner in which shipping matters between different countries of the Empire are being dealt with or arranged. 1 do not want to make difficulties, but I think the position should be faced and some belter arrangements made. I want to say a tew words about the holding of future conferences. One of the difficulties is, Mr. Hughes and myself well know, that it is a long journey from Australia and New Zealand to the heart of the Empire, making it almost impossible to attend these gathering yearly, and 1 think these conferences should be held yearly—it means serious inconvenience to most of us and to the country—but if anything is going to be done in that way, we may look forward to improvement in wireless and improvement in the cable system yet anything that we do at present must be based upon steamships and railways. Something ought to be done, and while I do not want to commit the country to it, it may resolve itself into a question of subsidies, so that we may get our mails carried and passengers carried, and our products carried from oue country to the other at the lowest possible rates consistent with fair profits, and so far as mails and passengers are concerned, in a very much shorter time than it is taking at present. NEW HEBRIDES DIFFICULTY. There is just one word I want to say regarding another subject, and 1 am only going to refer to it by way of emphasising the necessity of something being done. I mean the difficulty in wnicli the New Hebrides is placed, where there is a dual form of government. lam sure most of the members of the Conference understand the position in New Hebrides and the conditions under which the people are governed at present. The present system is absolutely unworkable and getting into a worse condition all the time. I <io not know what to suggest—except that it might be possible o arrange an exchange of territory so as to provide one Government for these islands—that ought to be a matter to be put before the French Government. There is no question about the fertility. There is quite a large area and a large native population rapidly diminishing in number. In conclusion I would like to say a word on behalf of the Dominions. I have the utmost affection for the heart of the Empire. It is the Mecca of every British citizen; but Ido think that, in the interests of both the staesmen of he United Kingdom and the people of the Dominions, meetings should be held periodically in the overseas countries of the Empire. It my suggestion is given effect to it would give the Prime Minister and Mr Churchill—not both, perhaps, together—an opportunity of visiting the Dominions. You cannot govern the Empire from the windows of Downing Street. I do hope the opportunity will be taken by statesmen at present in the United Kingdom to visit the Overseas countries of the Empire, and they will then understand the view of these countries, and the aspirations of their peoples. I do not think that there is anything else I want to say at this junctuie. I had no idea that I should take up so much time. I should just like to say this. The people in New Zealand never before seemed to appreciate to the same extent the importance of the Imperial Conference until this occasion. They were perhaps never so enthusiastic on any previous occasions. There was practically no opposition to my coming to London, and the one point that was impressed upon me in Parliament end at the public meetings which I attended a few days prior to leaving the Dominion—the one point that was impressed upon me was to stand for unity of Empire and if I stood by them they would forgive all my shortcoming in other directions. I have nothing more to say, Prime Minister, and again I thank the members of this Conference for listening to me so attentively as they Lave done.