IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2105, 13 June 1907, Page 1

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

INTERVIEW Vyi i'H SIR J. G WARD.

United Press Association —Copyright - PERTH, Juno 11.

Interviewed this morning on his return from London, Sir Joseph Ward, aslcod to state his opinion on the general results of both tlio Imporial Conforonco and the Maritime Conference, stated that in his opnlon both Conferences had justified the calling together of representatives of the self-governing colonies. In respect to THE MARITIME CONFERENCE, the results affected the Commonwealth more than New Zealand, for the reason that his country already had a Shipping and Seamen’s Act upon the statute book that provided for nearly all matters that wore doalt with by the Conference. Some points, however, of general application were dealt with, which wero of material interest to New Zealand. The protection of local shipowners as well as officers and seamen from unfair competition from abroad, together with tho assimilation of various rules of. practice where it was possible to give effect to them were most valuable. He intended to ask the Parliament of New Zealand to legislate in accordance with the resolutions cairiod at tho Conference in places whore legislation was necessary. It would, in his opinion, have boon a good thing had the Maritiino Conference met 10 years ago, for then the representative men in England and the colonies might have devised common grounds of action, and so havo prevented many difficulties that subsequently had arisen. One. great good resulting from the'Conference followed from the fact that the shipping interests of tho United Kingdom and the colonies were brought face to face at a rough common table, where personal discussion and frank interchange of opinion did so much to clear and remove misunderstandings that must inevitably exist where everything .was left to correspondence and despatches. Sir Joseph Ward said, the success of the Conference ’n no small measure was due to the TACT AND ABILITY OF MR. LLOYD GEORGE.

Whore so many conflicting interests were concerned the risk of friction was* great, and that this did; not occur was due not’ only to the reasonable' attitude of the delegates, but equally to the courtesy and judgment of the President. While naturally and properly alive to his enormous responsibilities as official head of world-wide shipping in the United Kingdom, lie showed’an evident der sire to meet the views of the Commonwealth and New Zealand wherever he possibly cbulcL~ln“ reference to the Imperial Conference, here the difficulties presenting themselves were in some respects very great indeed. It was the FIRST REAL BUSINESS CONFERENCE

of representative men from the oversea dominions that had taken place in England. The former Conference had done good work, but that work was-entirely of "a preliminary Character. Practical issues were first dealt with at this Conference. He would have greatly liked to have seen preferential trade agreed ’to by the British representatives. However, they could not shut their eyes; to, the position of the British Government, who were returned with a' record majority, pledged among other things to the continuance of freetrade. In common ’ with other " members , of the Conference, Sir Joseph Ward pressed the point'that ' ' ’ PREFERENCE ’■ WAS DIS’I’INCT FROM" FREETRADE,;

and could, be given effect to without violating the principles, of that doctrino. The.... British . Government, however,, was not prepared toj accept this view,- hence the most that could bo said was that a good deal was done in the way .of educating public opinion upon that point. .■ • A MOST IMPORTANT STEP was taken in establishing the Conference as a permanent institution with the Prime Minister of Great Britain as the standing President. The actual constitution of the Conference, its functions, and the machinery for doing its work were left to be settled at a future meeting, and this in his opinion was a very wise step. Meantime’ the machinery would be worked by the Colonial Office. The discussions that took , place in connection with the MILITARY AND NAVAL DEFENCE

of the Empire, particularly in relation to the colonies, were of the greatest importance. In respect to naval defence; the views of the Commonwealth differed from those of New Zealand, and Sir Joseph Ward naturally expressed no opinion as to the course pursued by the Commonwealth, as it was a matter entirely for them to decide upon. New Zealand preferred to continue the existing system under which, the whole naval defence is conducted and controlled by the Admiralty, New Zealand contributing upon a money basis. He had explained at the Conference that they had yet many years of development of their country to provide for, and the obligations this entailed were as much as the colony was justified in undertaking. He hoped, however, that the course the Commonwealth , proposed to take would turn out to be one of great success to them. Sir Joseph Ward further expressed satsfactipn that his suggestions in favor of CHEAPENING POSTAL AND CABLE RATES,

and the quickening of mail communications, together with, the establishment of commercial delegates representing the British Government in the colonies, had been accepted by the representatives in conference, bub also by tho British Government, and lie hoped that practical results would follow. Sir Joseph Ward, iii reply to an inquiry as to the attitudo of tho British Government at tho Conference, expressed himself in high terms of the courtesy and consideration extended-to all the delegates by Lord Elgin, who most capably presided. Asked as to his impressions of London, he said that the HOSPITALITY AND KINDNESS that he and his party received from all sections of the British people from tho day of their arrival till they left

would nover be forgotten by them. Pressure of work daily outside the Conference itself had given him an exceedingly busy time, but he was returning to New Zoaland with delightful remembrances of his visit. Those wore enhanced from tho fact that a great "link ih the chain of Imperial brotherhood had been strongth : oned throughout tho memorable Conforonco of 1907. “ft. is undeniable,’’ said Sir Joseph, “that there is a great want of knowledge concerning the position of tho self-governing dominions and the ddveiopmont that : s taking place in‘.thorn. I must say that

CANADA

to some extent should be : excepted

for some reasons. Slio has made advertising an art. She advertises wherever her representatives are to bo found, and makes a display of what Canada has to offer in the way of land, attractions in employment for workers, in a manner which is oxtremoly successful. For instance, I visited Dublin Exliibtion, whore Canada had a separate court, which was.filled up in such a way that .visitors had before thorn a realistic presentation of wheat fields and dairying land with cattle grazing on the farms. As an outcome of Canada’s puslifulness, I saw three or four steamers laden with human freight loavo England and Scotland for Canada. The Dominion is bottor known in England than any other of the self-governing colonios. Its comparative nearness to England is also a factor in keeping it boforo the eyes of tho British people. Although I must in justice to our representatives say they spare no pains to keep thencountries before the public, yet our expenditure in advertising is very small indeed compared with that of Canada. The British people fear that preference will raise tho price of commodities to the consumer, but in my opinion the rivalry between the colonies for tho Home market would keep the prices at a fair level. Our , DIFFICULTY IN THE WAY OF PREFERENCE

is the belief that Canada, Australia, and New Zealand could not supply sufficient wheat to take the jilace of that at present imported into Great Britain from Russia, America, and other countries, but I believe Canada and Australia alone could in a short time if they had the certainty of the market more than supply its requirements. However, under the circumstances, it was impossible to carry our preferential proposals at the recent Conference, but we can hope for better things from the next. With reference to

THE MAIL SUBSIDY, I advocated an improved Atlantic and Pacific service across Canada to New Zealand and Australia. My view was that we should aim at a 20 days’ service between New Zealand and London, four days across the Atlantic, and 12 days across the Pacific to New Zealand. It is quite a common thing;for steamers to travel between London and America at 21 or 22 knots. I hold the same speed could bo maintained between Vancouver and Now Zealand and Australia, provided the countries concerned were prepared to pay a subsidy large enough to induce owners to put on the class of steamers mentioned to take up the trade. It would necessitate a subsidy of about £400,000 a year. Although-this is a large sum, it could bo borne if divided proportionately between the countries con-

cerned.” Asked whether such a service

would not interfere with the Suox Canal service, Sir Joseph replied:, “My opinion is that', it would not. The service I advocate would cause an increase traffic. Whatever great steamer facilities have been provided they have resulted in such an enor-

mous increase in trade that instead of injuring the existing lines they

have caused the establishment of additional lines to cope with the traffic. This has been tlio experience in i* Atlantic trade, where of course, there is a large population at the end of the line. We in Australasia must look forward to a large increase"ol population ill years to conic, and ! establishing tho most up-to-date passenger service would be doing much to attract immigrants to our shores. So far as New Zealand is concerned, wo will leave nothing undone to establish such a service. At both tlio Imperial and Navigation Conferences I advocated a reduction of the SUEZ CANAL DUES. -

The present high rates have handicapped the development of colonial trade, causing the bulk of tlic imports and exports to be carried round the Cairo. It' seems to me,” continued Sir Joseph, “monstrous that the rates should be so high that ordinary cargo steamers are almost prohibited from using the canal. It- is possible, in view of the speeches made by the Australasian representatives, that some alteration will be made in the near fueure.” MR. DEA K IN’S VIEWS. SYDNEY, June 12. The following report of an in terview with Mr. Dcakin in England lias been telegraphed from Frema u tie:— Dealing with the attitude of the Imperial Government, Mr. Dcakin says: “I think Ministers acted consistently but ARGUED THROUGHOUT INCONSISTENTLY.

They absolutely refused any. and every kind of fiscal preference, either on their existing tariff and any modification of it. In that direction there was no thoroughfare, but they suggested that in regard to modes of preference other than fiscal they had an open mind. They invited propositions of any character, although they refrained from making any themselves, yet, when I submitted a general suggestion for the purpose of providing a basis which might lead to some definite arrangement if was ATTACKED IN A CONTENTIOUS SPIRIT

and dealt with in its details ill spite of my repeated protest at the time that the details were matters of indifference, and that Ministers were evading the real purpose of the proposal. What I sought was practical action and the revolution necessary ta allow such action to be taken. The outcome was that I offered but was declined a general and - indefinite re-

solution in favor of some such action being taken hereafter at some indefinite time. I instanced the case of Sir Wilfrid Lanrior’s MAIL SERVICE PROPOSAL, which ' was mot certainly with less aggressiveness, hut with almost equally determined' opposition. Sir W. Lnnricr was obliged to consent to his motion being whittled down be.oro ho could gain its acceptance. There was little prospect now or Sir Joseph Ward’s desire for a rapid Pacific service receiving anything like adequate suport from tho British Government. The TOTAL PRACTICAL RESULT jf the endeavors to ascertain forms of co-operation other than in fiscal preference to which, the Imperial Government was willing to agree was nil. It would have been more consistent if Ministers, with a mandate igainst preference, had given their decision at the outset of the Conference. Wc were met, in effect, at the Hose* of argument with a plain non-' possumus, quite irrespective of 'the' ■Merits of'the discussion or in fact or my discussion we could have maiifaiued. Except therefore as a diabetic extra for Ministers, the whole f the debates so far as they were ■oncorned were rendered meaningless ; the MATTERS WERE DECIDED BEFOREHAND,

leoided lor. them as much as by : ;hem*. '' While, therefore, they were perfectly consistent in refusing, to ’crept bur proposal they were quite nconsistent when they encouraged m .o pursue the argument at great 'ongfli. without a prospect . of the -rguineiits leading to anything.”