ANOTHER REID BANQUET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2762, 17 March 1910, Page 5

ANOTHER REID BANQUET.

CABLE NEWS.

CAST ASIDE “PRIVATE -SORROW FOR PUBLIC DUTY.”

United Press Association—Copyright LONDON, March 15. At a .banquet given by the Colonial Institute in honor of -Sir George Reid, 278 guests were present. There was a brilliant and representative gathering. Amongst those present were Lords Rosebery, Beauchamp, Strathcona, and Ranfurly, Sir LED. Rawson, Mr. Sydney Buxton, Sir R. Talbolt, Messrs. Moore, Bedford, Herbert Samuel, and BowdenSmith, General Hutton, the AgentsGeneral for the Colonies, Sir Charles Lucas,- and Mr. Pearson, Lord Crewe, who presided, proposed Sir G. Reid’s health, and welcomed him as a statesman of long and varied experience, a skilful and accomplished orator, and a thorough man of affairs. Sor George Reid, who met with a most enthusiastic reception, replied in a brilliant speech. He said he thought it his duty to put aside private sorrow to obey the call of public duty. He thanked Lord Crewe ■lor the honor done him by presiding.

LORD CREWE ON COLONIAL RELATIONS.

(Received March 16, 10.30 p.m) LONDON, March 16. The Eerl of Crewe, speaking at .sir George Reid’s banquet, said that the duties of the Agent-General were in no wise entrenched upon by Sir George Reid’s arrival. He thought that the comparison of the High Commissioner and the Agents-General to Ambassadors was singularly infelicitous. He preferred to regard them as Imperial statesmen, whose duties were, partly, to look after that part,, of the Empire which they represented, but who were also able to give opinions on many Imperial problems without party trammels. He thought it unlikely that the present arrangements, ■whereby the Secretary for the Colonies looked after the business connected with the oversea" dominions and Crown colonies, would be premanent. A separation of the duties was probable within the near future. The idea of an Imperial Council could best he promoted by taking the oversea dominions into conference, and, whenever the interests of the dominions were concerned with any diplomatic problem, placing the utmost confidence in the statesmen of the dominions. SIR GEORGE REID’S SPEECH. Sir George Reid, in replying, recalled the rich, -stream of emigration which went to the Australian goldfields. Pie added that we now saw the rising greatness of Australia in its rapidly increasing strength in industrial matters and the growing volums of its trade —the magnificent dividend which Australia was rendering under British colonisation and enterprise. The -Australian system- of government represented,. perhaps, the largest measure of trust in the people and of freedom for the community that to-day was visible on the world’s face. The task of developing the Commonwealth was just as much an Imperial task as that of settling home political difficulties, and was a task which excited no party difficulties. Imperial and colonial Governments could unite in using their utmost influence to secure suitable British, emigrants for the Empire’s Dominions. Many suggestions were being made for adding to the ties of undoubted affection now existing. In considering them statesmen’s most anxious task was that of reconciling the. free play of selfinterest with an enlightened regard for the. Empire’s welfare. After mentioning, amid cheers, Australia s voluntary preference to the Motherland, Bit George Reid remarked that he was bound to add that there was, in Australia, a strong desire to go further, and reach a- reciprocal arrangement—(cheers) —but that desire had never, as far as lie could see, got the length of sacrificing their own growing manufactures.