Imperial Federation.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXI, Issue 3571, 29 June 1903, Page 2

Imperial Federation.

We have been requested by the Premier to publish tbe following letter which he bus received from the Imperial Federation (Defence) Committee in reference to a speech delivered by him on Imperial Federation:— Westminster S.W., 14th May, 1903. Sir, —The Imperial Federation (Defence) Committee has observed with much satisfaction the admirable speech delivered by yon in March last, in which yon pointed out to your countrymen, with that combination of patriotism and political foresight that has always characterised yonr utterances, that the burden of Imperial responsibilities at present resting upon the Mother Country was becoming very heavy, and that as tbe dangers to tbe commerce, trade and manufactures of the Empire increased, it would become all the greater. Tbe Committee joins with you in the regret which you then expressed that a wider publication of the report of the Conference of Premiers has not been carried out by the Governments of the Empire, and it has instructed me to forward to you 250 copies of its pamphlet No 19, containing extracts from those speeches made at the Conference which tend to emphasise tbe fact to which you so wisely and patriotically call attention. My Committee trusts that you may be able, by the distribution of these papers in New Zealand, to spread that knowledge of the needs of the Empire —for the due maintenance of its dignity and for tbe security of its people and their interests —which you have endeavoured to bring home to your hearers in all parts of the Empire. My Committee also hopes that these publications may serve to show the people of New Zealand how earnest is the desire of both the people and tbe rulers of tbe United Kingdom to secure their actual co-operation in the work of maintaining and administering the Empire to which they all belong.—l am, &c.,

Arthur H. Losing, Hon. Secretary