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bringing the Old Land and the great and growing self-governing colonies into much closer connection than they have attained now. Dr. JAMESON : Lord Elgin, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, and Gentlemen, in the words of appreciation used by Sir Wilfrid Laurier as to the message of welcome we have received from the hands of the King, I think he was speaking for all of us. Again, the graceful words used in connection with Mr. Chamberlain, who presided at the former Conference, I am sure we all join in expressing, and I hope, before we go to-day, that those words will take formal expression in some message of sympathy from the Conference to that great statesman. The representatives of the greatest colonies have spoken, and I feel—and I think my colleagues, General Botha and Mr. Moor, will feel—that we, representatives of South Africa, must naturally labour under a certain disadvantage, not only on this occasion, but on every occasion of a meeting of the Conference when these important subjects on the agenda paper are brought up. We cannot each individually speak for South Africa. We have not attained our destiny, as those two great colonies, Australia and Canada, have already done. New Zealand, I believe, can live within itself, it requires no further consolidation, unless it is that great consolidation which this Conference, we hope, will take a long step towards bringing about, that is the consolidation of the whole of the component parts of the Empire. But we in South Africa, I hope and I thoroughly believe, will minimise that disadvantage by the unanimity with which we will approach every subject which is brought forward, and we may further get a local advantage, I think, in that if possible we, seeing that we do suffer from that disadvantage here, will go back to our countries in South Africa more earnest than ever in endeavouring to consolidate our local interests, so that at our next Conference South Africa also shall be represented by one representative. In thanking you, Sir, on behalf of Cape Colony, for the kind welcome you have extended to us to-day, I wish to say that I was very glad to see that, though, of course, you expressed in very kind words of sympathy, not only of the English Government, but of the whole of the English people with the Colonies and their representatives, you also reminded us that it was not merely sympathy that was expected from this Conference, but solid business. Therefore, I take it that we will get further, probably, in this Conference than in past Conferences, that we will get beyond the simple discussion of the methods of unity within the Empire. I look forward with that expression of yours, Sir, and with the trouble which you took to lightly pass over the whole of the agenda paper before the Conference, as far as it exists at the present time, to resolutions being passed, not merely as resolutions which may be forgotten, but resolutions put into such a form that they will bring some real result. It is quite true, as you, Sir, said, that of course, at this Conference, resolutions may be passed but no action can be taken. But there are various kinds of resolutions, and resolutions may be put in such a form at this Conference —always supposing we, the Colonial representatives, come into agreement with the representatives of His Majesty's Government —that they can go to the various Legislatures, with whom alone the power rests, and that we should be able to take some step forward —some practical step towards further unity, not only in the sentimental feeling, but in the practical material interests of the various component parts of the Empire. I thank you, Sir, again for your kind welcome. Mr. F. R. MOOR : Lord Elgin, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, and Gentlemen,—On behalf of the Colony I represent, I have to sincerely thank Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, the head of your Government, for the welcome we have received here this morning, and I sincerely hope and

First Day. L 8 April 190'

(Sir Joseph Wakd.)