IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18166, 3 November 1930, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

EMPIRE CONSOLIDATION. MR. MacDONALD ON THE RESULTS. “ANYTHING BUT BARREN” tnltea Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Nov. 1. The Empire Parliamentary Association gave a dinner to the delegates to the Imperial Conference last evening in tfhe Royal Gallery of the House of Lords. The Prime Minister, Mr. MacDonald, who presided, described the conference as anything but barren. The Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. R. B. Bennett, said he still hoped that before it was too late they would develop some scheme by which they might help, each for all and all for each, to solve the economic problems. He suggested that they should leave the question of status alone and consider the material consolidation of tbe Empire. The other three-quarters of the world might well ask .what we were doing with our quarter. Who could blame them? The Australian Prime Minister, Mr. J. H. Scullin,' said he did not know yet whtat material advantage the conference would yield. He hoped to emulate the Australian cricketers and return with the “ ashes ” —but not of his burnt hopes. This the oldest Parliament recalled to him the newest Parliament at Canberra, where sheep grazed within 100 yards of the front door, magpies sang on the roof and kookaburras laughed in the gum trees, all typifying the peace and brotherly harmony witht j.

The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr. G. W. Forbes, said: “The constitutional problem does not concern New Zealand. We will not tolerate separation from our kith and kin.”

The South African Prime Minister, General J. B. liertzog, said the supremacy of the white man in South Africa was essential, if he was to retain his birthright of civilisation. The Secretary of State for the Dominions, Mr- J. H. Thomas, expressed the hope that the conference would reach a unanimous decision in a few days, ENTERTAINMENT OF DELEGATES. VISIT TO THE , FLEET. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Cr-vrlgbt. LONDON, N. t. Although rain and poor Visibility disorganised the programme, 54 ships of the Atlantic Fleet provided off Portland a most spectacular sight for the Imperial Conference delegates. Among the 300 guests on board the Nelson was Mr. G. W. Forbes. At luncheon the Atlantic Fleet's Commander-in-Chief, Sir Michael Hodges, expressed the hope that the demonstration would be some recompense for the hospitality which the Dominions always showed the Navy. When-bombarding a crewless, wire-less-controlled target ship, the Centurion, with her four-inch guns,, at a distance of four miles, scored many good hits. The Centurion vanished in a smoke screen, miraculously thrown out by wireless control. The destroyers earlier provided a massed torpedo attack on the Nelson, but not one got within 100 yards. THE END APPROACHING. REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEES. (Omcial Wireless.) • RUGBY, Nov. 1. The overseas delegates to the Imperial Conference are eager to complete their work as early as possible. General Hertzog had provisionally booked his passage to South Africa for next Friday, but in view of the amount of work still remaining he has postponed his sailing, and means by which the business could be speeded were considered.

The terms / of the report of the arbitration and disarmament committee were to-day settled and it has gone forward to the heads of the delegations.

The general economic committee has completed several reports. One of these relates to what steps might be taken to reduce the Empire’s dependence on foreign sources for its supply of petrol. Three lines were considered: First, a larger proportion of Empire requirements might be rellned within the Empire; secondly, increased production of oil from coal; thirdly, the development of geophysical methods of prospecting for minerals and oil deposits. *