10 MARCH 1923, Page 10

Mr. Bruce, the new Australian Prime Minister, in a speech

at Melbourne, pressed for the summoning of another Imperial Conference to discuss Empire Defence and other matters. Like the Canadian Premier, Mr. Bruce said that "the system by which the Empire's foreign policy was settled must be such as to involve the agreement of Australia before actual steps were taken." It would appear, therefore, that the proposed Imperial Conference on economic relations will develop into a discussion, of all matters of interest to the Empire. Mr. Bruce also referred to Australia's need of markets for her produce. "Too much stress," he said, "has hitherto been laid on production, and not enough on markets for the disposal of the produce ; Australian markets were very much restricted."