AN IMPERIAL OPTIMIST.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3244, 14 June 1911, Page 8

AN IMPERIAL OPTIMIST.

(By William Maxwell, in the “Dany V J Mail”).. Enthusiasm is catching, and no people spread the contagion more quickly than New Zealanders. I'ive minutes talk with one of them and you are a confirmed optimist. r/ , , I remember, when m New Zealan ten years ago, how the late Mr Richard Seddon, or “King Dick, as he was called, dominated everybody with his gigantic person, his hearty manner, his untiring energy, and his incurable com fide lice that never failed or faltered. Under his spell all things seemed pc«-sibl-o —even enfranchisement of women. There must be something in the an of New Zealand to produce this optimism, for here is S’ir Joseph. Ward, "King Dick’s” successor, with, just the same enthusiasm, and compelling convictions. I made this discovery after a talk with/Sir Joseph Ward, who has just arrived in London for the Coionation and the Imperial Conference. THE ROLLING STONE. Irishmen, like Scots, have the habit of success when they are caught young and transplanted. Sir Joseph Ward was born in Australia of Irish parents, and settled in New Zealand when three years old, so that, like Mr. Gladstone he may claim three nationalities. At the age of twelve lie was a te.egraph messenger, and at fourteen he was earning £l3O a year. I" rom the telegraph office he passed into a store, where among other duties, lie incidentally looked after the business side oi three newspapers and took to the railway. At twenty-one he abandoned the railway to start a‘i expoit and general business of liis own. At twentytwo he was Mayor of Campbelltown, and held the post for five jeais in succession. At thirty he entered laiiiameiit, and in six years lie was siblo for. the direction of the lost Ufhce where lie had been a boy messenger. When, Mr. Richard Seel don died in 1905 his 'natural sueessor was Sir Joseph Ward.' Is it true that a rolling-stone gathers no moss ?■ .... W r ith such a career it would be tne basest ingratitude not to 'have confidence in one’s country. Sir Joseph Ward believes in New Zealand and in the British Empire. You will usually find that the man who has confidence in his country has confidence also in the Empire. But faith without words is dead. If you look at the programme of the Imperial Conference you will see that in New Zealand faith is not dead. New Zealand means business. IMPORTANCE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE. Now Zealand, though the most loyal and of tlio- Dominions % lius always had her own idea of Federation. She declined to become a part of the Australian Commonwealth mainly tor trade and fiscal reasons. "My idea, said Sir Joseph Ward, “is a loose Confederation in which' the Dominions shall preserve their autonomy • and shall be united for purposes of defence. A War Union is possible if a Tariff Union is not. New Zealand is a Protectionist country, but I recognise that in some parts of the Einpire this doctrine is not accepted.” Imperial defence is, however the question that interests the New Zealand Prime Minister more than any other. , _ ~ , “People in the United Kingdom, lie thinks, “do not always consider this problem from the standpoint of the outposts of the Empire. If Great Bntain was at war and were to suffer defeat, these islands would still be able to maintain their independence. But what would happen to the distant Dominions who have not the means of protecting themselves against a powerful enemy? In Canada, Australia, and New Zealand we have established a system of national land defence. In New Zealand we have created a, force that could repel any fee likely to attempt a landing. But that is not enough. The enormous growth of naval armaments in other countries is undermining the naval supremacy of the British Empire. It is unreasonable to expect that the people of the United Kingdom should continue to carry the whole burden of imperial naval defence. If each of the Dominions were to undertake its share we could build fifty Dreadnoughts without any great effort.” “And what is your opinion about separate naval administration ?” I asked. “New Zealand has not adopted the policy of Canada and Australia, who .retain control over their national Navies in time of peace. We regard this division of naval programmes and of naval responsibility as involving unnecessary expense and weakness.”

AN EMPIRE COUNCIL. “I see that at the Imperial Conference you are going to raise the question of an Imperial Council.” “Yes, we attach the greatest, importance to the question. The foreign policy of the Empire, upon which may depend peace or war, is at present determined by the British Government. The Dominions have no voice in vital questions of peace and: war, of international law and treaties, other than commercial, with foreign Powers. In these matters the Dominions are practically disfranchised. Until we have a voice in imperial affairs there can be no. satisfactory system of contribution to imperial defence. There cannot be taxation without representation.” , “What is your scheme? ’ ‘Air Imperial Parliament of Defence in which the United Kingdom and tlie Dominions shall be represented on the basis of population. We must create a real partnership in the protection of the Empire'. It must be obvious that the Imperial Parliament cannot do the work of the United Kingdom and of the whole Empire. The' whole business of foreign policy and defence must bo transferred to an independent Parliament of the Empire. There is no reason why such an Empire Parliament or Council" should not meet alternately, m the different capitals of the Empire. Distance-has ceased to be a barrier.”