POLITICS AND INFLUENZA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 47, 20 November 1918, Page 4

POLITICS AND INFLUENZA

In the state of affairs disclosed when it assembled yesterday,, the House of Representatives could hardly have done anything eke than adjourn.' Two of its members have succumbed to the epidemic, eighteen are ill, and many others are away from Wellington on account of sickness in their families or in order that they_ may assist to fight the epidemic in their various districts. With only twenty-four members in their places out of a House of eighty it was evidently impossible, as the Prime Minister remarked, to carry on the business of the country. In his brief statement on the work of the session Mr, Massey was not able to carry matters to any definite point. His hope is that when the House meets next Tuesday the position will be much better than it was yesterday. At best, however, about ten working days will be available between next Tuesday and the date on which it is pro-posed-that our Ministerial representatives should leave to attend the Peace Conference. Even if the House is able to resume next Tuesday some of its members will be in poor condition for the strenuous working effort that would bo involved in dealing in. ten days or thereabouts with the short but important programme outlined by the Prime Minister. The position is all the more acute since the outline, is obviously incomplete. Mr. Mas-' sey instanced the Government's' financial proposals; the Estimates, Supply, and the Liquor Bill, but it will hardly be suggested that Parliament should end its present session without giving some attention to the all-important question of repatriation. ' Even if the health of members | has so far improved by next Tuesday as to enable them to resume a fujl tide, of activity, and this seems at present decidedly improbable, they could not do anything like justice to the essential work in hand in ten working days. A sweeping readjustment of existing plans already seems inevitable, >

In the course of his brief survey Mr. Massey outlined certain, work that must proceed, and at the same time expressed a hope that New Zealand would bo represented at the Peace Conference. It would be, undoubtedly, a serious misfdrtune if anything occurred to prevent the representation of the Dominion. The question raised is as far as possible from being one of ceremony or form. The broad lines of the peace settlement are perhaps to be taken for granted, but in regard to its details nothing is cut and dried. Some- of these details are capable of being varied in a way that 'would tell materially for or against the interests of the Dominion. Kepresentation at the Peace Conference is astrictly practical necessity. At the I same time there is work before Parliament which must be given full attention at the earliest opportunity. _ If the question arose of sacrificing or subordinating one of j theso demands to _ the other the dilemma confronting the Government and Parliament would be serious. It is obvious, however, that ]}oth demands are imperative, and the sensible thing to do in the circumstances' is to make such arrangements as are necessary to enable both demands to be met.