STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 510, 18 May 1909, Page 5

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER.

'■ ■';.. HE WILL CONSULT PARLIAMENT; The Prime Minister, having.had before him Mr. Miliars statement, as telegraphed ■ from Greyrnouth, said;— ■■■'■';:,: ;'..■■'..'' : .. "It is not possible for hie to say at presont whether I will go. Home to', represent New/Zealand at the Imperial Naval Conference. lii,.the-first, place, the date has not yet been fixed. Secondly, I would not in any'oaso. make any-arrangements for attending the conference, /without first consulting Parliament, and obtaining its • authority. , And, thirdly, the first .session -of a now Parliament having to .take ' placc ; a.ftor a" general election, I could not -under, such' circumstances, with a recognition of what is due .to the country, "be absent'• during .the currency of such a. first session. "Conse: quently, uiitil I know ' definitely what'date is fixed for the conference, it. is quite inipoosible for metostate what'will bo done."'. ' . Mlt. lias been stated by a seotion of the press," continued the Premier, " that I am 'personally anxious , to. go.' ;That is: not the case. I'look upon the coming conforojico as an exceedingly important one, and one that is likely to havo, very far-reaching consequences, because; unquestionably, a new era is opening in connection with the naval de- ■ fence of the Empire. Tho position I hold is one of great responsibility in the affairs .'of. this country, and it must b» recognised that of.necessity one who holds that position can with (greater-.authority discuss and consider those- important matters with a view to their consideration afterwards by the Parliament of his own country, but nobody wlio realises what a journey to tho Old Country and back means, with a stay of ton days or a, fortnight at- the outside, can contemplate such a trip witli anything akin to pleasure.' '■ "Personally,. I.would prefer that the conference, should be hold in October of November, but I recognise that the Imperial Gov- : ernment has to decide, with a full knowledge of the object of the confemnco, whatthey conceive to ho tho most suitable, date. • In any case, Eo far as'l am concerned, it is quite clear, that Icould not think of being absent from the first session of a new Parliament immediately nftor a general election, unless such arrangements are: made by Parliament . itself, as may be. satisfactory to' me. I do no,t say this from an, egotistic*] point of view; but simply on account of tho • responsibility which ie inseparably attached to my office. : • Tho Prc-mior declined to mnko- nny referenco to tho utatementby the Lender of the Opposition. (lUr. Mnssoy) ns published in these coliimnn yonterdny, . ■ ■■ ■, ■ ~■ •