THE DEFENCE CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 509, 17 May 1909, Page 4

THE DEFENCE CONFERENCE.

■■'■■/■■' -■.■"■ '~♦■■'■ -■ ..':-■■ •■'■ V.-':. ; '- : - ; -. SHOUIJJTHE PRBMUJK CIQ?: . . OPINION OF THE LEADE& OF "'IT " '■■'•'■■. '■■''.- -..'■■■. opposition.; v , : In reply to a telegram from Thb Domjaoflf regarding tho representation. of New,*, Zoa-: land at tho ooming Defcnco Confcrepoo in England, tho Loader of tho Opposition (Mr. Massey) states:' * :■■■'■.'■ .: , . - l ; : "In view of tHe fact that very important business connected with the ■*; and the urgent need for systomatio .reorganisation qt- the Publio Service must come b?foro Parliament during tho forthcoming ' session, I am V strongly; of opinion that the Prime Minietor,: who is also Minister of Fiuauco, 1 ' should not le»vo the colony until suoh business is disposed of and Parliamont prorogued. Wo should' roinombor too /that , the Houso ofO Representatives has been recentlj' elected, and containe an unußiially' largo proportion of now members. New Zear. land ehould certainly be at the Dofouce Conference, but tho High Cpmmis- . sioner is surely, competent to act as one reprosehtatiTe,.and' another can go. from here : who need not bo cither'a Minister of the' , ' Crown or a member of Parliament) . Bnt whatever arrangement may be made, theses- : sion ehould bo held as usual, apd.Sir Joseph ,Ward should he. present. , - , "■'■■;■■