WAR CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 38, 8 November 1918, Page 5

WAR CONFERENCE

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS THE RESIDENT MINISTERS SOMETHING ABOUT THE FUTURE v Some information relating to the business at the Imperial Conference was given in the House of .Representatives yesterday by the Prime' Minister and Sir Joseph Ward. Mr. Massey said that part of the business was confidential and could not be mentioned publicly until the war ended. The. War Cabinet was the more important body of the two that assembled, the other being the War Conference. Particularly good work had been done in the interests of the Dominions, ' and consequently in tho interests of the Empire. Somo important changes were . made in connection with the work of the War Cabinet. Up till recently the method of communication between the Imperial authorities and the Dominions had been through tho Secretary of State for the ; Colonies. As far as New Zealand was concerned the system had worked very 'well. During his term of office he had 'dealt with three Secretaries of State, and each one of them had treated New Zealand with the greatest courtesy. In that respect, New Zealand had no complaints to make, for everything possiblo was .done to givo effect to any requests that ,might have been made. But l it had been Ifound unsatisfactory to hold Imperial Conferences at different intervals, and [the Prime Ministers of tho Dominions were given the right to attend the sittings of the War Cabinet. That was an important event, but a more important proposal had been made. That was that any of the Dominions might appoint a Resident Minister in London, where he would stay permanently to watch the Interests of his respective dominion from an.lmperial point of view. That Minister would be entitled to sit. at the Imperial Wnr Cabinet so long as the war lasted. When the war ended the Imperial Cabinet would come into existence. ;Ho had no doubt that all tho larger .dominions would appoint a Minister-right away. "I believe we will apply for a Minister in time," added Mr. Massey. "I believe that arrangement, will he a very good thing for each dominion and for the Empire as a'whole." • ,

An Important Change,

. Mr. Massey said the scliemo meant that the Imperial r War Cabinet, instead of sitting once a year, would sit periodically. It would he convened whan there was business for it. The chaugo was In the right direction. The dominionshad been taken into partnership, and the basis laid of a groat Imperial structure. There was no interference with the autonomy of any dominion. That should be clearly understood.' The dominions would make their own laws and levy their own taxes.. But the rjg'ht hand of British fellowship had been extended to the dominions, and it ought to be accepted as heartily as it had been offered. The importance of the- change could be realised by looking'back for four years ,and seeing the pre-war situation. Seventeen million white British subjects outside the United Kingdom had been without representation or a voice in Imperial affairs. The new 6cheme was an enormous improvement. It mis not perfect; he. quite realised- that it could be im■proved, but it. was a big step. There Lad been talk of Inroerial federation. Ho believed it would be a great, mistake to go too fast in that direction. Constitutions were not made in a day, and an attempt to bind the dominions to one another and the United Kingdom' with rigid bonds would not bo wise. Constitutional progress could not be hurried. British people had always been moving in this respect, and an example of-this movement had just been seen in the extension of the franchise in Great Britain. But he did not believe tliatiNew Zealand was ready to be taxed by a Parliament outside its own borders.

Mr,, Malcolm (Clutha): It would be its own Parliament. Mr. Massey: "It would bo an Imperial Parliament, '.sitting ...outside'.-New, Zealand." 'He realised that money might be required for Imperial purposes, but the dominions ■ would- raise it through their own Parliaments. The advocates of federation had done'very good work in directing attention to Imperial- affairs. 'S e heard the opinion expressed in the House that it was not necessary for the Dominion to be represented in the Imperial War Cabinet. He was sorry to hear such a view. Had New Zealand not been represented it would have been a mark of weakness and a disgrace. The position, would be realised more lully when the proceedings of the War Cabinet were made public after the close of the war.

The Pacific Islands. Another.section Si opinion was'rcoresented by the "little Engenders," who said there should be no expansion of the Empire in anv direction. They did not represent public opinion. The Dominion Ministers had not been seeking new territory when they urged that the bermans should- not be allowed to reoccupy their 'Pacific islands. The Germans had to be kept out of those islands in. order that they might not become a menace to the peace of British communities in the.South Seas, just as Prus., sia had been a menace to the peace 'of' Europe for one lmndrtd years. Various proposals had been made for tha government of the ex-German islands. He was opposed to anything in the nature of dual control. The condominium ..in the Naff Hebrides had been a complete failure and he would rather see the islands handed over to Prance altogether than left under the present system. The old triple protectorate of Sali * £ ecn . a f a>)«re. The joint control of Bosnia and Herzegovina by iVjf 1 * ""ITiutomr had. produced nothing but ill-results. ' History showed ■clearly that dual control of the German fe. •lands would be a disaster. .Germancontrol had also been a disaster. He had seen pathetic appeaU from natives of Africa that they should never again!be put under German rule. Now the Germans were whining about the loss of. their S^M M J« i 'l id n not sfl y that Briti, in should do what Germany would have done if she had. been .victorious in the present war. The Germans had entered the present war in the expectation of petting great territory and enormous indemnities and she would have had no mercy if she had got Britain under her heel. The war had cost Britain •M.OOthOOO and, what. v™ffar nore important, over 1,080,000 lives There was not enough wealth in ; G'ermn.ny lo pay for those lives.. He would not anticipate the decisions of the Peace Conference, but ho would say that the British doimnions of the South. Pacific would oppose strongly the reapnearance of Germany m their neighbourhood •

The Shipping Position. Referring to the shipping (difficulty, Jlt Massey said that Now- Zealand had wade sacrifices in order that ships mi<dit be available to move American troops 3he,accumulations of prnduco in the stores was one evidence of the sacrifice but he did not think the people of the Dominion gr.udged the transfer of the ships. It had been suggested that now that 2,000,000 American troops had been transferred to Franco some of the ships ought to be returned. But the fact to be remembered was that every American soldier required five tons of shipping to T j"T7 l»i9 food and munitions. The united States would want a vast supply of shipping as long as it had hu"'e armies ln Europe. Mr. Massey said he bmld ships'. i n New / enlnD(li J enncrol-n s l lips POn](l bu It anywhere they could lie made in «,„nn." W wllere t,lere lrere v«st supplies of limestone and scoria.. The Dominion sliould bo able, to produce steel sups from ifa own materials, and it had already milt wooden ships sutcessfull" Pushed vigorous: La h. i-,? i' Al T, ca - an<l elsewhere, and he had been glad to notice that in the last three months construction had exceeded the losses by ,100,000 tons. Germany had'been building ships during the war, and intended to enter the carrying trade again as soon as the war was over. AVere German ships going to be allowed nga.n to carry : goods between British ports? Members: No! No! , Mr, Massey: "I hope not." He wished

Mr. Havelock Wilson, and the British seamon every success in their fight, against the Huns. The whole .question ot shipbuilding and sea communication would have to be taken in hand after I the war. The Governments would have to check charges and joutes , and do their best to make the sea communications as good as they possibly could be. The British communities, would not grudge subsidies for shipping. One of the resolutions of the War Conference had suggested the creation of an Imperial Board that would control. Imperial- shipping in the way that interState commissions controlled railways in the United States. The board would review freights and other matters. He believed that this board, when brought into existence, would hove an important influence on the Empire's shipping.

In the Future . The war had [shown the Empire its strength and also its weakness. He did not believe, that this was the last war. He felt, as most men did, that the Empire had not realised its own capabilities to the full during tho last century. Steps should lie taken after the war to keep all emigration within tho Empire. 'New Zealand could receive a share of settlers from the United Kingdom, though the soldiers _ must have first consideration. He considered that in land settlement, State employment, and local government employment the returned soldiers should have preference for a very long time. to. come. Ho was opposed to alien enemies being allowed to enter New Zealand after the war unless they could show that they had riot been in sympathy with their country in the war. This applied particularly to Austrians. He would prevent shirkers from coming to this country from any other country. If a man had been afraid to fight for his own country then ho should be prevented from coming to New Zealand. (Hear, hear.) He believed that the establishment of .industries in the country should bo encouraged. If it was found possible to establish the paper-making industry in the country then it should be started. After the war he believed the country would outer upon a prosperous period and so be able to meet the liabilities it had incurred in the last four years. Tlio coming of America i into the war \ had pioved to be one of the most important events that ,had taken place in history. It was destiny that 'had brought her in. If the time ever came for men to beat their swords into ploughshares he thought it would come about through such a combination of Powers as was in existence among the Allies to-day. Mr. Massey paid a tribute to the assistance Japan had rendered in the early days of the war in' tho convoying of ships from the Dominion.

Mr. Massey referred to his visits to the New Zealand hospitals in the Old Country, and said .the troops were all well cared for.- The work at the instructional classes was of a splendid character, and many disabled soldiers were being taught trades and other useful' avocations. •

SIR. JOSEPH WARD CHANGED IMPERIAL RELATIONS. Sir Joseph Ward said that .the relationships ot the Empire had materially changed during tho last live years. Today no public man at Homo thought otherwise than that the progress and prosperity of the dominions must be safeguarded. The Imperial Conference had done, very important public'work. The importance of some of the matters dealt with, particularly in regard to the overseas .dominions, could not be overestimated. There must be representation of Nevr Zealand in tho Mother Country, although the character of that representation might change as time rolled on. Seventeen millions of people, the kith and kiu of the 'people at' Home, would not remain satisfied until they had equal' representation with the people in the Old Country on matters .that affected the Empire as a whole He held that the future of the British.■ Empire would require a Federal Parliament within, the British Isles. There would have to be somo system of government in which the overseas countries of the Empire would have a voice. It was only right that the people of the dominions should have an opportunity of speaking on'the question of peace or war. If the Prime Minister and himself had done nothing more than awaken au undercurrent ot feeling at Homo as to the. standpoint from which New - Zealand regarded the future of the German islands in the Pacific, then their visit had succeeded ten thousand times over, it would be a fatal thing for the safety of the South Sea dominions to return the German islands to their former owners.

. Speaking of s the meat question, Sir Joseph Ward, stated that the greatest trouble experienced'in New. Zealand'had been in regard to shipping. Two-thirds of the difficulties that had been encountered in connection with the cost of living were due to lack of ships. Freights were a serious question, being accentuated by the distance of this Dominion from the Old Country. It was quite evident that they,were approaching the end of the war. .When that was accomplished a large number .of ships would be released, which would result in relief being afforded to this country—a greater relief . than it had: experienced during the last four years. In reply to Mr. A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) tho Prune Minister said that he would bo pleased to give the House an opportunity of discussing the subjects which had been referred to by Sir Joseph Ward and himself.