THE COUNTRY'S BUSINESS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 527, 7 June 1909, Page 5

THE COUNTRY'S BUSINESS.

SHALL IT BE SHELVED?

TO BE 0180USBED THIS fcFTEftNOON.

INFORMAL MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. . Tho informal meeting of members at which the Premier is to explain his reasons rot attending the' Naval Conference in London, and to endeavour to justify the extraordinary proposal that the business of tho country should be shelved for three or four months, will take place this afternoon. Last week wo published the invitation . to attend tho conference oxtended to the 'Commonwealth Government, which indicated that tho conference would bo purely of-a consultative character. But.Sir Joseph Ward's recent statements on tho subject have given tho impression that in his case there is a vital difference. This afternoon's meeting u not Parliament. It cannot definitely decide whether tho session will bo adjourned, or not is quite informal, i • '■ ".' About the Lobbies The members arrived in parties from tin north and tho south on Saturday and yesterday. Most of tho Auckland members cane by. special train, which arrived at midday yesterday; othors carao on Saturday even-, ing. Nearly all converged upon the temporary House of Parliament yesterday and made themselves acquainted with tho now order of interior architecture Not a few wore accompanied by their wives and daughters. Tho members chatted about the situation in oornora and corridors, speculating .this way or that—with a well-defined restraint. . Pressmen, alert and eager for "views," comingled genially with the political throng with littte profit, but a good deal of pleasure. There was an air of mystery in tho corridors. Most of tho. members were fonnd to bo in an uncertain frame of mind regarding the situation, concealing with more or less skill how little tliey know. ' •New members _oould he picked by old onei through a certain lack of assnranoe that is nove* observable in one who baa been "through the mill." "Introductions" could bo heard on all sides. Members found, thoir way to thoir allotted places in the re-arrwigod House, tried the seats, and llio'patent flapdesks, and were'more or loss, satisfied, The chamber looked smart, and glinted new. in its coat, of varnish.' J l .'- ••;

"Bellamy's" occupies quarters, formerly too kitchen and servory o( gubernatorial days, and tho dining-room of aforctimes is still tho dining-room. ■■ The press is happily located in that bright room oil the sonilioast corner of tho building, which has an outlook on to tho front '■: lawn and an inloe-k into the Chamber. ■ ;...'. This Afternoon's Meotlng. : \>- Sir Joseph' Ward' informed a l, Dominion representative that the meeting : had * been called for 3 p.m., at ..the . Parliamentary Chamber. Legislative Councillors willl.''tako no part in tho proceedings. beyond befog accommodated vritli seats in tho, galleries:. On tho subject of-throwing'the. iricoting opon'to tho press, the Prime Ministcrf stated thatho was disposed to admit the reporters. Nothing had so far, been decided. .They.would, be informed-what decision.-had been'"arrived at Bhortly before the meeting commenced. One member of the House.states that the meeting must bo an open one. If not, he. will minounco his intention to the meeting of reporting tho proceedings himselfVijnd would do so. .Last night Sir Joseph Ward informed a Dominion reporter that it was intended to hold a Government caucus; this morning,

POSITION. ; WILL NOT..ATTEND THE^CONFERENCE. /' SESSION SHOULD CONTINUE. •• Mr.'W. F. Massey, Leader of the Onposi Won, exprossed. himself as follows to a Dominion representative :— "It ought to b<3 remarked that I Wo received no official invitation to tho Imperial Defonco Conference, and that I havo not been consulted on the subject by Sir Joseph Ward./l have thought tho mat-tor out. very carefully, and 1 have come to tho conclusion what in tho existing circumstances', even if an invitation reached me, 1 should not bo justified in accepting it. I have been strengthened , in that opinion by . the correspondence which has been , published 'as havingpassed between tho Imperial Government and the Government of tho Commonwealth on the subject of tho proposed conference. Mr. Asquith therein. stated clearly that this was a subsidiary confer-• ,'. ence, fhat.it was intended.to be.purely -.■ consultative, and ho requested'the pres- ! <■ ence of the Defence Minister, and,-if ■■'"'.'.■ possible, an expert on defence- 'matter* from each self-govorning colony. As De- . fenco Minister, there is no doubt' Sir. , Josoph Ward might attend tho confer- .. ence if he chooses.-to do so, and if he , thinks the circumstances of this country justify Inm. doing so; and no difficulty . will be placcd-in his way by the Opposition party, but whether ho attends the conference or remains in' Now Zealand ' the position in regard to public affairs is such that tho business of tho session - should certainly be proceeded with. , ..,"1 may say that J agree with tho ' theory that has'been put forward that in the case of tho ordinary Imperial Conferences, wlmoTi aro held at intervals of \t four years, if it wero possible to arrange it, it would be a good thing to have each .-■ self-governing colony represented by tho leaders of both parties.' But-this occasion is somewhat exceptional, and, speaking for myself,- while quite prepared to malco any personal sacrifice involved, and while quite as anxious as Sir Joseph \\ ard or anyone else to further tho best •interests of the Empire, I feel that I ' should not be justified in accepting an invitation to the conference and putting tho country to tho expense connected therewith."-

THE QUESTION, OF PRECEDENT. WHAT HAPPENED IN 1897, ; In connection with th'fe. proposal thathParhaniont should adjourn in tho --vent of tho Prime Minister going to England, it is' interesting to recall whnt happened when Mr, S&ddoil proposed to visit England to represent Now Zealand in connection with tho Jubilee of Queen Victoria's reign, The Leader of tho Opposition at that time wag Sir William, then Captain, Russell, and ho' wrote the Prime Minister on the subject. The following extract from his letter, dated Marcli 22, 1897, is particularly interesting:— "On previous occasions, when the ('Premier litis been absent from the colony —I write from memory, having no time • for reference—-it was not deemed ncccs-' sary to-- interrupt tho usual course of parliamentary business, and I cannot but feel that a precedent will bo created by Parliament agreeing that the absence of the Premier involves tho necessity for the suspension of tho ordinary procedure' of Parliament. It might bo construed into an admission that tho position of Premier is not merely primus inter pares, hut includes , a prepotency foreign, to our constitution." In a speech in tho House mado on April 8, 1897, the Hon, Captain Russell said: "It seems to mo that. Parliament is to bo reduced to a mcro cypher, instead of, the great power of Parliament being . maintained by members: to, control its own affairs. It is our duty as members to maintain that power, and I feel that by abrogating the power conferred upon us, we M o sanctioning a system of ono man government; and creating an autocracy out of a domocracy," Sir Robert Stout, speaking on the sam« question, said: ■' "When, in 1874-75, one- of the most important quesbona that oould bo con-

cdsred by any colony ma under, discussion, involving a total change in oar 'constitution, namely, whother the ays- ■> .torn of provincial government was to continual or not, oven in soon a crisis ,_ the Premier wont to England, and there was then a Ministry aplo to carry on > 'without the Premier being prosont. Is our present Ministry not so able as the Ministry of that time? It has been said that our Parliament has detenor- ' atcd, but what con be said of the Mm- > istry of tho day?" It will bo remembered that Mr. Soddon „ r admitted the reasonableness of these contentions, by going Homo and leaving Sir Joseph Ward to conduct the business of tho House Will Sir Joseph Ward provo equally open to conviction? _. ( EFFECT OH EMELOYMENT. t 'ACTION BY TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION A special meeting of the Wellington Typographical Union was held on Saturday evening at tho Oddfellows' Hall, to protest against tho adjournment of Parliament for ' three months lor the purpose of allow rag Sir Joseph Ward to attend the Imperial Dofence, Confeionce, as, it is considered, such an adjournment would mean that a largo number of people would bo prevented from earning a livelihood during the seventy of tho present winter. There waa a very large attendance of members, and Mr. Edmund Jones (president) occupied the chair. Tho following resolution was carried unanimously .— (

■ th|s : ; 'union,':"'■ whilst ; .; hJ:;;^tho iricCessity; 'of •.-tho impending.lmperial., : -r,;;.}.: lf fDe'fehce':.Conference, and . the : - desirable^..; A noss.\,.of',New-; - : : = S;>'' •'.'■represented/' iurges „;,of ;,- ;*ift ''■'; mont;;tb takoi ihto,.consideratipn.the; far- • '.fet,?'^ K/;5'.;.:£,' jn'enfi of: the •■winter jsession: on; : tho indris-; . ;s .]'•.':";■ trial-.classy The .large, number.: of wage- , :;■• % f-.;' earners;' who:.find '.employment'during l 'the:?; K:;v ! sitting '.of iParliament; will ;be on,'. "tie}%eseiit.J:abnornial;, unemployed, mar-;,':; '■y&.'-J wket; and'wives/ahd.'dhildren who aro tiowv^ ;-_-v;]-"if; :.•>'■"Buffering-from 4 ' want and ■hardships (dub c' ';•';"';•'■ ij Withe; ;• '%'.■' : : .!.-;be.- further': cruelly:';penalis'ed during ■the ■ ■ '-Wi-;,'■■■ ?It.';'/was > ;further.iresolved: ■;,' -''That; 'letters' S>''c^ '• .;0^ £££ of ;;tho - Opposition/; /Messrs;' T^M; ; i.Wilforcl >'■

s'^ B.:FisHoi r J.'«; liuke;"R: XvWrigKt;' Rigg,-.'and; thatia/cPpy.;qf-the,Tesolu-? to rovery.- member "of .both ;;i;£f ; Houses,v;:WitK?;a, getting.,.aa,:inuoh' ftiW;!.support. '.as.; pdssib!eVip,>'further:the object. :';. ?''Cii"!'-'During'■'. the: .diseassipn ■: that ..took .'place,; sVgvfcwas^pointe^ ;•).; %•■■ wouldmean .the'-loWof^employment'to-many. .;(;';:■'.'tradesmen;, such;:as' better-press .machinists,' gJ ; o;.l^pk^inders,::and^ i;':;' ; , •; the;.;.sessional. messengers'' and-' waiters; and ;?•;'■',• .that''j business - ganerallytiwould. ; suffer : at' a £;j£:criticali : time/.pwing.tp./.the fact,!.',thaVm'em- .;.;,::'' bers : ! of /.Parliament, ; and.'the usual sessional y'ftx visitori(;y,would.-iiot be ; rtisidmg'.in.[the, city, f 'of' work recent-, '.ly,^ior,jjary.in ■ ';S;^'ipg T ;fbrward to.'sepunS"work during the .'cptn-'i 5; ; /,i;;'ing(session,Awhichvwqu'ld:;; enable them'.to [S^-ige't-.clear^bf'^debt^'andnow >'it-lonised'-: as ,if-' &' V @!ffieir^hopes;were;to' ; be'!thrrist:aside to' suit &i(\ the;lwish Priino^Minister."•'-•l'Tho'■'cdn-::!:^:census, of opinion.wjis.that.Parliameht ought -H;^:'to^goion?>ivithi.the ,df...the country;' an';' adjournment'; was !.'.•'The president.undertook, the duty:, : of :intefy>;i:,r Viewing as many, as ''■■ possibles; [with i^oo ;tnei'-.bbjeqt .of. impressing^on'. them';tho[;,yiews ; ■>; ; secretary'! was' ;in-' i- : i^Jrijstr.uci^; : tb'Jprward;a. ! copy'.,of the. resolution; ;city,v,a6Mng\for'inp2'' 9'fl; vportfand; co^pjjratibjir.:;■[:[: ;]-,; : ;•.-':•;■,.;;;;:'•;.,[..;:[' jt\£:;-'■;'.■: ;Th'e;execntiyeT<)ffic,ers Verq'empowered : .to: call; a[ public[ : -deemed.necessary;; ;';;'.•.;■/to 'discus's the "question of' adjournment; and i.fcf :'.',lp:, : mvita''the local M.P.'s. to .bo."present,'so' ;spi fhat'i.tbe' public;: could^^be' : ; apjirisejd; ' : ;.;';';.f.facts ;of itne'. m'i : HOT ) . : and:'tho v J7iews : .'6f.'the : S:^^Bnio^/v^V^:^'^'i>S-'' ; :.^V^' ; ' ;! ' , -'i'-''''- '.■'■: .'' ; ;