COMING SESSION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 517, 26 May 1909, Page 7

COMING SESSION.

THE NAVAL.; CONFERENCE. GOVERNMENT'S REMARKABLE COORSE. f INFORMAL MEETINC ON JUNE 7. , THE PREMIER'S MESSAGE ft)' : : '"'.-' 1 • MEMBERS.; .-. ;'.' ';■'■■.. The Prirrio Minister has telegraphed to al the members of both Houses asking theni ti .-..' moot him informally at Parliament Building] on Monday, Juno 7, in order to discuss thi ' - question of his attendance at tho Conference, ', and tho cognate question of arrangements foi ■ .the session.'. After that, Parliament will ■ meet on Juno 10, tho date to which it noW stands prorogued.; Sir Joseph Ward's telegram to members ol tho .Upper and Lower Houses is as follows :— Parliament and conference. _' On tho second day. of April last,' his taollency.the Governor prurogued Parliament by proclamation uniil tho'loth . Jinnyproximo, Since then circumstances •''•■' of gravo lmporial importance have arisen. -'■ • involving urgent consideration of qUes- .' .tionsof Naval Defence, and tho Imperial'. Government has communicated to mo, ; through bis Excellency the Governor, ah ; invitation to bo present; at a .Conference m London convened with a view to disthese questions. 1 ani. informed ' ' that tins Conference cannot bo bold later ' than tho las.t week in July, henco if I am . .>' to attend it I must bo prepared to leave' A civ Zoaland about the middle of June. . In my judgment it is essential that the' '. ..wish olid wilrof members of Parliament ho known by me before'giving tho-Ira- '• ' '■ . penal Government a deiinito reply. In ,■ tho ordinary.course,,l should have asked' his Excellency to Bummon l'arliiimout for.; '■■. an earlier date than now fixed./but lam advised by the Crown Law Officers that ,"', ; there is no provision in Now Zealand by ; !■' '':'-, which this can bo, done. In England Par-' , lianiontcan bo summoned at anytime by ' Proclamation.on giving sis days' notice, ■:'' ."'.' although d later dato has already; been fixed for-its meeting. This power, I-am'-.'•■•'.'■'. ■ advised, however, is. not possessed by tho ... Governor: of Now. Zealand; In these cir- ' . '. . ■ oumstaiices I ani compelled to;adopt an expedient hot without precedent-.in lSUjf- , -( ,: . . lish-spcaking. countries of inviting -tho ' . • ■ .•' nieillhoi's of. Parliament to .moot infor- ,'■ A ' ; Uiiilly. Upon an earlier dato than that noiv '/''.'.',; .fixed for thofonnal'opening of theses- , ; sion. Accordingly, I'now ask you to bo : . .. good enough to meet mo on Monday,' the" seventh.of. Juno next, at three p.m., at '■■.. . ' s !' ;.. Parliament; Buildings; I ;have,'sent: a' "■■ ■ " sinfjliir invitation td every member- of:- ■; ;-both Houses, alidl shall takb thooppor- ■ : -A" . tu'nity; of. liiyilig'boforo ''members'' When; assembled a,full statement of tho reasons : ; .' which,'in my opinion, render''this:course - ; ', ;'.-" ■ necessary, and justify the urgcncy.wuicliA „ . ; . underlies it./: l.hayo taken this step'tho:/ •' more,readily becauseTbelinvo nli,nicm-,,; bers.recogniso.that tho question of Iln-7 .;' ; -:: porial defence'.is. dno\that 'rises above-• A '-, ■, luoro party interests or - S; '■•■■' : : and that members, at the meeting I have ~a so convened, will approach tho conßldera- ■ ,iU tion of t)io questions that .will bo.BUb-:./.' ': ; ' mittcrt ■■- to; them in a spirit .of broad-.' ' A minded'ami impartial patriotism. I may •'.■'•• ' .add, in' farther, explanation of, tho courso; .-A"iv' ' I am noYv taking, that tho'preliminaries?'■■"',• . ' which must,this,session .precede any pub- A Ho .business ■ would, in .ordinary orcUni-V : ■ , .stances, probably so long, delay my'asr - '. certairiing . tho Will'of Parliament Upoti ; ' '--A;''. the questions I have outlined,; as to rcn»'. : der mv attendance at tho" Conference im- A ■ .'• possible... %. .'■ ' .... .'V •■''- : '..' ■ ,>; .. \. '''■:'■■ --.A;,; .A.;.'.: ;•';;; :::■:;.:. FUrthßf Statement by-tho Premier, y. i- to' n 'reporter'.' laab -, '.'-v. > night, the Primo Minister said that hewoukl y'\ r . ask the:inembprs of Parliament,to consent to .■'.' • : an adjournment of:■• Parliament until after ; ■'■''.';' s his return from London. ;V- ; :,..,:., .'.'lf they..do not.agree to this, my courso . ■. : i go to. London. ; My'■'.. -, ;■ plaflo during the first, session followjng a gen- , :ornl.election, in fairness to Parliament and 1 tho couiitryi,is,in tho.Housoi If'tho Houso ■-■'•'■' s says lam not to.go, I shall stay. ■ ' . ?; , ! ( Tho.v6yago toftnd fro will take iriost of. : '',■, tho.time,' 1 don't.suppose tho conferonco' . I 'will last more- than about ton days, and my ■ idea- is to coind- back as soon as possible. I. There will ho tiino enough for thp session 'af- ."■.;'■■ .; t'er that. Tho Government is, however,'quit-o i ready to begin at onco, - ' as all- tho business preparatory to tho, session;:is in a very ad- ■',•', .vanced stage." .-" ,■.."■'■'■'; : '•■.'•' .'' In reply to a'further qucßtidli|.tho Prime! i .Minister said that ho would obviously bo iu • .. a bettor position to 4poak to tho House in ',-; rogard to-the Dreadnought offer aftor ho '■' had attended tho conference.' - - 'Hato the Session will Open. -.'■' As statod above, tho informal eonferenoe : ; ~ of momlwrs of Parliament on Jiino 7 will ba , followed;' whatever is then decided,, by -the' '; ,;. ,' formal oponing of Parliament, on Thursday, V ; Juno 10. : Parliament ivillbp openod in .> cordanco-with constitutional pratioe, in the ••",. case-of tho first session of-'a-'-Parliament, faj ■"'" ■, ; ■.' , Commission,': The Hon. 0, C. Bowcn (Speaker." , '■.{. of the.'Legislative. Council), tho Hon. Dr..' '';'.'; 1 Pindlay,- and two other: moinbers .- 6f-.-..tho Council ivill bo tli6 Commissioners.'"Tho Gov- . : ',-•"'; 'eriibr will enter;tho : Council,Chamber on tho. . ■;. following day and deliver his Speech, ; Tho ,-■; llmiso of Meprcsolitativcs will ; elect ' its'Speaker oir the Thursday afternoon. ;: ■-'■.' : ';lt is anticipated that tho invitation to;tha .'l,'; Plinio JMinistc,r to attend the conferonco -will".-'-' !be laid.boforo;Parliament. • . v ... • '■]';.'::;.' ;THE SUPREMACY.OF THSBEA. ! SPEEOH Bi r THE PRIME MINISTER. r " :,;'- ./During a speech at the banquet to Mr. ,T.; : E. Doniio last'night tlio Primo Minister'.- '.-!■- made a further allusion to the Naval Con-. ■ '■/■>.'. forenco, 1 Ho.isaid that .-Parliamont , : would'.'"' ,V ; hlivolo solve, a problem of gieat importaJicc,■.'! : v v'i' ' boai;iiig not oliiy upon Neiv Zealand,- but,'.'. , ..' upni'i countries beyond our'shares—-the ques- ;. ;'. ,; tioii ivhether or not. this country. Iras to' bo V ';' represented.in tho Old.Lund uii tho moment-,; bus occasion of. the'coming' Naval Conferciico, ,!. ■'■■'.' , Ho believed that with a very leu- exceptions .'.■ tho hearts of tho iiieii and women of -this .'-,- ' country ivcro beating loyally for the Old Land : ; and for the.now laud.that was a part of tho.. ~'.''';';• Old Land—(apphiuse) i -aiid when Parliament! ':'] met the;will of the people, as focusscd by. .'..;.■ their representatives, would bo fouiid to bo ; .■ , : that-Now Zealand should bo'represented,'and'"-' that thoy should accept tho invitation to '.-■■', assist in initiating the new era whioh-was . :: ' -y, necessary .in tho matter, of tho defonco of tJio ■ . .', Old'Laii'd and tho outlying portions of tho Em : ■;■;'■,,' :: ; piie. Wo could,not do other than rccognisl'i"'' ',"■:."'■■ tho efforts .that' ivcro being made by otlict',, -. powerful countries, , and. olio iu , particular,' ■!,, and though, wo could not take any exception, ■.'•■;'<. to, such-a nation trying to riso in,the world, "" ■■■:'■■■'■■'■' and trying to protect its interests at homo and ; abroad, yet wo must join hands with our own ,: people,- in tho conviction that we ought not,- ' to bo caught napping, or to allow any n*.'.'■,'.■'.■■■;.■ tion to got alongside of tlieni. The' British '.'';- Empire BJioiild bo so powerful that thoro •'" should; lio no question, of any other: Power , 'Hobtaining tlio supremacy of,tho,sea, which : . I was so important to us and Empire. - (Applausel) | .";''.''.' A -'■' ,; ■- ; ' '^ ; : V'lier Spoakor6. :^ A'littlo later'iii, ; tho evening,' Mr. H. C.'. V- ; ' Tqwsley alluded to tho.samo subject. Ho'said ho sincerely trusted that nothing woiile 1 , : ~' prevent Sir Joseph Ward attonding tho Niiva.' (Jonforonco. Now Zealand to-day for.liertiec '.- ' i loomed largo in tho oyes of .tho pixijilu uf tht/ , . ; '' Old-Land, and there cOuld bolter 0c..;;, ■' casion for the Premier to let lumsulf ho soon and known in tho hub of the. Empire.;. The . matters to ponio beforo tho New Zealand -''.. '*■ ',■'■ Parliament sank into; insignificance before, ' tho important issues U\ bo decided ut tlio • . Naval Conference.' (Applause.) : ''• . ■'-, The Hon. Dr. Eindlay i (Minister for Justico);.tald tho Primo Minister, iu makinit tho ' biter of a Dreadnought to tho Mother Colin- ''■■' try, had struck a.note to which overy-Hrue'.'"'■'■'■'-a ; heart would respond, and when tho question.''/ * of his going to the conference came up, Jhey

SM"Wf *"'be'thi .fin* -ja end do . hon-". i'j 4 c; :: ■* - onr- to. our Empire." v (Applause.) That, Sv>'■■;■'. wnld bei'tho■ spirit in which'.-thie question l^Vw'would.beisettlecL--(Applause.);, : :/. : '< : --; fe?l-^ , ? : ':^voC'* ; P.;l:i-;;i"'':. / ] "■' ; - : v : \- : '& tri '■■' % I WilPO RTA NT: BtJSWESS,, >;',; : ■'■■'. ■; :y li;- v .r;." ,;-'";'■.'■■' i : -, i. Dll ITjii.iaßAPH-;SrECI4t CORRESrONDEST.t '•'.''. ; :-^'' ;^r?A'Kv".:*S>:>;'-! .; Auokland, May2s. W&fi- ; ■■' : MerviOTrecl • regarding "the coming' _ session, : f 31 ,- : ■: ':Mr.^Masspy.to-day.-explained-the.attitude;ho.: ;-.'■>' v-- , .-".■«•■' ..■'•/. '"('•;-'-.! 'I;!considor, the.icoming. session'should be: ;■'.-■<'■■■': •'.;'" : ' ; tjte\inost" important ; that has.'been, held for :S ; Sr: v 2oycars.v For instanco, the'following mattora ■ii ■-';'?'.'.- ; ' for/consideration:— '. ■ ; ■;:' . J;'';'.;;:' ;^:/syTlie'position ; intovwhich\the publicjservicO; ■:^M'-:v' : y has a driftod.;. : i:'- : ■■ ''■.'■''■■•"; ■::■'.'-■';'■■■■. ":.•.',.'•..•".: '■?fV! v'■'!■";-■'"Thoi fallin^;off:in,.the;<revenue..:--S-' ,X . '■]■)'. i- : :\"-. : , ;f?^- '.'The scarcity and:price of money. .'; . . iV-/\l ■ vf of loans; for public works and "iV^'ilV-^:pother^purposoe; -}k:'^.i\.- : ._\i', : •.■■..'■.-■ '■■■"vv..-'* '■!,...-' • : -'v : :;^-;"The'financial:position-generally^.apart al-' X>j?'/ : ;.::togbtherffrom; naval- defence or: the'.financial ; <v--'i:::':'::'arrarigements- on account of tho .■battleship's: ■■ : .v:>;,- ■-~ ' V ' : :,-: : -'■"'.;.'.■•■'. -.:.: : -:, : ; - '■;;>:■... .:;v;i''The--subject;of our local .defences', -and j';V:V. -.: '-.'.whether: we'shouldgb in for national;traaning '&■ ;"■'!-'• or.allow matters to;drift' from bad to worse, ; "•■v' : | :;/y.*'. ; :.--'ae ; for years..\ - : .-' ■}:''.''^'-!~''-■":'■'■■ "The'land Crown' and- NaS^X'.i'wtive'lands;.^.'^^- "X ••..'■..-'■.'. :'■:. ■',:"._::■■. '-.<_ ■■ :, ..'■..-■•.. ■':. ty. v. : : ; V; : ; "I : am not'in'-"the confidence' of -the Gov-.' >V: ■ v'i ■;- ernmehtV:.but I should;not: be surprised; if we i j.;,..:,.; ■ asked to' ■' increase, '.taxation'.; either rtifS; : ■'■.' yt-hrough; ; the' Customs '•; or by way vof .direct ■; :;;-;H;--/: : both; ■: ,:."^;:. ■" ■''■/■'}' ■'■•.■';'■..■- W , v;.•.' :*:■! •.".Tlieri' there. is the .legislation mentioned y: : '.:-. ;J '.by;,tho .Prime -Minister himself,,-all; of import?'' '>;:':;-i:.:,'ance, and; most;of directly : affecting the zii"~':s.-i' of.which-he'is ins head.;. ■.-'.. .', I'Tho: Opposition members are ; not'.inclined ;;•.•'.;■ : :- ■to' be. unreasonable, .but oiir first duty is. :fo ;:'S). ■ i : tho' country, arid I consider thel/position gen- ■ i\'■;-: ;-.-,'.■ ■ ..orally, 'too' serious to bo, trifled withy and; for■ Y-V- .?,-."": ■■■ ' ; 'l '. have -mentioned,; whatever ar- ; s.i' :*■':■'■:■■■■ rangemohts 1 may" be.- made if or; representinp;'. :;'.;;: : Vvi.New;Zealand at .the;:lmperial.'-Conference,.l' : f; -b hi I think that: Sir. Joseph. Ward'sprpper,place is '^K.;. !J: . ; -'^'!.Pariia"ra6ht-'!uiiti!-the session -.closes; and. i;;!: ,V;;. -nntil .this:public;business.'6f the; country has 1 properly:-considered." : .», 5; '..'':. :• !-,-v