"A STRAIGHT DEAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1301, 2 December 1911, Page 19

"A STRAIGHT DEAL.

WHAT SIR JOSEPH WARD SAYS WE DESIRE. AND HOW HE PROVIDES IT. "Our people do like a straight deal in all things."—Sir Joseph "Ward to a rccenfc interviewer. A striking instance of Sir Joseph Ward's idea ot "a straight deal in ail tilings" was provided at tho rccent Imperial Conference on tho debate his motion for tho establishment of "an Imperial Council of State" —a motion, by the way, submitted on our behalf without any consultation whatever with iia as to our viows on turning the Emprro upside down. Sir Joseph Ward in his speech called his proposed body sometimes a "Council/ sometimes a "Parliament," and sometimea an "Advisory Council." As he went on tho President of tho Conferenco, Mr. Asquith, and the other Primo Ministers naturally wished to know what ho really meant. Hero are somo extracts showing how he wriggled and twisted, and made himself altogether very ridiculous. Now he talks about the necessity for "straight dealing." It is very funny, but so like the Ward Administration to preach ono thing and do tho exact opposite. The extracts, which are taken from tho official report of tho proceedings, aw as follow:—

THs Art of Evasion. "Sir Joseph Ward: If we could arrive at a decision to adopt a per capita contribution from the respective countries tho outcomo would be a British Navy so powerful that the world would stand at peace probably for generations to come. Surely it is a matter worthy of the greatest consideration on the part of a Conference such as thia to bring about, if it is possible to do so, such a consummation ? "Sir Wilfrid Laurier: Will you permit me an interruption here? "Sir Joseph Ward: Certainly. "Sir Wilfrid Laurier: Would this bo in conjunction with your Imperial Council? "Sir Joseph Ward: Yes. "Sir Wilfrid Laurier: Are the two things not quito apart, and could you not give contributions to-day without having an Imperial Council? I do not see the relevancy of it to the idea you are expounding.

"Sir Joseph Ward: I suggest that the Imperial Council is the only way of pro- ' Tiding that the voices of the different I countries may be heard through their ] constitutionally-elected representatives. I Tho Imperial Council is tho only way, I ] will not say to go back upon tho policy of any of the Dominions, but it is tho j only way in which, in my opinion, a uni- ! form system of co-ordination and co-1 operation can be achieved. That is my I view. "Sir Wilfrid Laurier: But that is quite J independent of the policy of contributions. • "Sir Joseph Ward: I hope to show presently exactly what my proposal is. "Air. Batchelor: You would have legislative power? 'Sir Joseph Ward: It would Tequiro legislative power to enable it .to carry out it 3 functions. "The President: That is very important. Is it proposed that this Council should have legislative powers? "Sir Joseph Ward: I intend to explain presently what I think it 6hould have. ' 'The President: Mr. Batchelor asked tho question, and I understood you to say yes. ■ ' '] "Sir Joseph. Waidi Yes, I 'propose/that it should 1)0 created by legislation. "Tho President: Created by legislation, yes; but to have legislative power is a different thing. "Sir Joseph Ward: And that its powers should be defined by legislation. "Mr. Fisher: I understand you to say that it would have legislative powers as a constitutional -body.. , "Sir Joseph Ward: Perhaps it would be more convenient if you would wait until I explain what it is I suggest . should bo done." "What Do You Call It?" Sir Joseph Ward had not gone very much further in the elaboration of his argument before Sir Wilfrid Laurier again intervened: "Sir Wilfrid Laurier: There is a difference between a Council and a Parliament What do you propose, a Parliament or a Council? I want a proper definition of what you mean, because you have proposed neither so far. "Sir Joseph Ward: I prefer to call it a Parliament of Defencc. "Sir Wilfrid Laurier: Very well. "Tho President: That is a very different proposition to tho one in your resolution. Your resolution as 'An Imperial Council of State'—nothing about defenco —'advisory to tho Imperial Government.' It is limited, as I understand the resolution, to giving advice.

"Sir Wilfrid Laurier: When it is started it is to bo a Parliament; who is going to elect that Parliament? "Sir Joseph Ward: I will• presently eiplain it. "The President: All I say is that that is not the resolution in any of those particulars. "Sir Jo3cph Ward: I would point out that tho resolution is 'with representatives from all the self-governing parts of the Empire.' "Sir Wilfrid Laurier: But you say 'Council.' Is it a Council or is it a Parliament? It is important wo should know exactly what is the proposal. ''Sir Joseph Ward: I prefer to call it a Parliament. "Sir Wilfrid Laurier: Very good, then; now wo understand what yon moan. "Sir Joseph Waxd: I pTofer to call it a Parliament, although I admit there is a good deal in the name. "Sir Laurier: There is everything in the name. "Mr. Fisher: Would it not be as well to amend your resolution on those lines ? "Sir Joseph Ward: No, I do not propose to amend' it; if it is necessary afterwards I should havo no objection. "Sir Wilfrid Laurier: You propose a Council in your resolution, but you advocate a Parliament. "Sir Joseph Ward: Ton can call it a Council if you like. "The President: We want to know what yon call it." Mr. Asquitli Cannot Understand. The next to intervene a little later was the President (Mr. Asquith), who practically confessed his inability to understand ejther the proposal or the argument with which Sir Joseph Ward endeavoured to support it. "The President: I should like, if I mar, to ask you this question. You say this proposed body is to, have a voice—l suppose you mean a decisivo voice—in the question of peace or war. How is that to be worked out practically? Are wo to havo a debate on tho question of whether or not the Empire shall go to war, at which everybody is to speak, with a division, and so on—3oo members? "Sir Joseph Ward: I have not suggested anything of that sort. "The President: That is your suggestion—the only suggestion before the Conference. "Sir Joseph Ward: I have not sugge;ted anything of the kind, with all due

.Tho President: Thou I do not understand it."

After thia ii is not surprising to learn that Mr. Asijuith condemned the proposal root and branch, and in very emphatic terms. He condemned it from the point of view boi'h of the Dominions themselves and of thv> Imperial Government. After further discussion, Sir Joseph Ward said: "In view of the expression of opinion of the meiniiera of the Conferenco against tho resolution, I ask that it he withdrawn" whereupon Mr. Asquith remarked: ir l think that is tho much better course," and tho motion was accordingly withdrawn. Now wo have Sir Joseph Ward telling

** The Government, or members of Parliament for the time being, don't constitute the Liberal party. A party cannot live on traditions and name labels alone. There is always a danger of a party after long years of prosperity and and dominance losing sight of its fundamental principles. It naturally attracts to its banner all sorts of people who hope to gain something from the party in power. The adhesion of people who are attracted by a hope of gain instead of the love of its principles has always a paralysing effect on a party. Parties may even adhere to names, while they entirely reverse their principles.*' —Mr. FOWLDS, on his resign*tion from the Ministry (Auckland "Star" September 12, 1911.)

the good people of Palmerston South, a week or two ago: "Every m*h at the Imperial Conference paid the compliment of Baying that I was a real live man—(applause) —and that I gave'them a great deal more work to do than all the rest put together." The extracts we have given from the official reports bear eloquent witness to our Bironefs claim to have given the Conferenco "a great deal more work than all tho rest put together."

One of the ways in which democracy is menacod by tho methods of tho Ward Government is clearly described by tho "Southland Times": "Tho Executive is encroaching more and more upon tlie_ province of Parliament, and unless the rights of Parliament are jealously guarded by fearless and independent men the Executive will attain a degree of power inconsistent with representative government in the real sense of tho term. In this country legislation by regulation is becoming much too common. Parliament has permitted the growth of a practice under which the Government frames its Bills on broad general lines and reserves tho details for regulations made by tho Gover-nor-in-Council. It is these details which directly affect tho people and tho industrial enterprises of the country, and sines the Governor-in-Council is tho Executive, Parliament in allowing so much to be done by regulation virtually delegates its. legislative prerogative to the Ministry of tho day. The dairying regulations and the tramway regulations, showed how much inconvenience and annoyance may be caused by the exerciso of undue power on tho part of tho Government. So mucb of our law consists of regulations that many branches of it are incomprehensible except to those .who havo made a special study of its intricate ramifications. Tho tendency to enlaTgo tho powers of tho Executive at the eipenso of those of Parliament is one of the unconstitutional movements of the age which call for stout resistance, and those mcm-

ftga tsutdffift tsssza fiaaran/j figassß ffga @ o a H "Some were very reputable | | men, and some were not so re- | n putable; some he would trust n | with all he possessed, and some | H with very little." | H —Mr. POOLE, Libexal mem- fj jj ber for Auckland West, referring g fl to the members of the Cabinet in ft H his pie-sessional speech at A tick- | H land in 1910. M 0 8 ip rxn rrrra rrtSTS tL-,'J'£.ia 65H53 iazuxi CB>B

bers who are not sufficiently stalwart to resist encroachment aro not iully qualified for membership in tho House."

During his review, of the Mokau transactions at Clevedon'on Tuesday ovening Mr. W. P. Massey made an cffectivo point against tho Prime Minister. Speaking at Te Arohu on Saturday evening Sir Joseph Ward declared that "under a Conservative regime 0110 man was ablo to buy 40.000 acres of land, but tho Liberal Government immediately they canio into office made that sort of thing impossible." "lias Sir Joseph Ward forgotten," Mr. Massey asked, "that on March 1.1. 1911, the Liberal Government, of which he is the leader, issued an order which made it possible for one man to buy in one block "i:j,000 acrcs of land? That nort of thins 15 not impopsiblo under th« Liberal regima numtamed by J3« Wetd,**