The Dominion FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1919. IMPERIAL REPRESENTATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 84, 3 January 1919, Page 4

The Dominion FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1919. IMPERIAL REPRESENTATION

One of. the things the recent experience of this country has thrown into clear prominence is that its existing constitutional machinery is unequal to the work it has to do and will have to do in future. Anyone looking into the facts must pcrccive that' as matters stand a double call is being ma'cle upon the leading members of the Cabinet which cannot be met under conditions. consistent with ordinary efficiency. In a word, our existing machinery of government does not enable us to be effectively represented in London and to carry_ on our domestic affairs as a Dominion in a,'satisfactory way. So far as the. ■representation of the Dominions in London is concerned many difficulties were smoothed away by_ the British Government when it invited their Prime. Ministers tq sit as voting members of. the War Cabinet. But although this action was statesmanlike and seems likely to. mark a permanent step forward in Imperial relationships it remains to find, a remedy for , detail difficulties and disabilities incidental to the new arrangement. /These dur-' ing the last year or two have hit New Zealand hard. Glad and grateful as we must be_ to obtain a larger and more effective voice_ in Imperial affairs than at one time seemed possible, it is to be set down on ; the other side of the account that we have secured Imperial representation at the price of serious neglect,- or at all events subordination, of national affairs. At all times during the war period there were indefinite demands upon the time and energies , of _ our leading Ministers in organising the country for war, in modifying local war conditions,- and in elaborating the plans and measures of reconstruction and development which should have been as nearly as possible' completed well in advance. Actually in • the later stages of the war two-of these'■ Ministers have spent' most of'-their time either in London or travelling to and fro. They. have spent little more than enough time in New Zealand to enable them to attend two. brief sessions of Parliament • remarkable chiefly for the hasty and perfunctory treatment of. questions which on their -merits and importance clcmandecl very different 1 treatment. It may be agreed that in' the circumstances the neglect of local affairs thus entailed .was inevitable, though in .the highest degree unfortunate, In their present mission to represent New Zealand at the Peace Conference, even' more than in earlier visits to London, our Ministerial representatives are dealing with affairs' of the utmost magnitude and importance which could not possibly be deferred or subordinated. It would not have made, much difference if one Minister instead, of two had gone to, London. The head of the Government must have gone in'any case since no one else, as matters stand, lis in a:position to speak with a sufficient authority on behalf of the Dominion. The main features of the problem raised are in plain enougn sight. As things' are now ordered it is necessary tha;t the Prime Minister should go, frequently' to London, 'but his absence involves a pronounced tendency to drift' and stagnation in the management of certain of our domestic affairs—a tendency particularly unfortunate, at this time when there is an imperative demand for. unstinted energy and bold initiative on the part of our governing authorities in order to create the' best possible conditions for the repatriation of our soldiers and for national development. Obviously, some means must bo found of combining the advantages of Imperial representation with clue . attention to local affairs. The improvised and unsatisfactory, arrangement under, which we are now working can only be temporary. It is necessary that our constitutional machinery should be so altered and improved' as to meet conditions , in which the outlook and responsibilities of the Dominion have been permanently broadened and enlarged. The new arrangement must provide as nearly as possible for continuity of representation in London, and at the same time for continuity in the donduct and control of local affairs. It is a matter of urgency to effect such a change since the necessity the Dominion is under of being represented in London will not disappear with the conclusion of peace, which is now in near prospect. On the contrary, to look no further afield or ahead, it is evident that vital questions relating to trade, shipping, colonial dependencies, 'and matters of Imperial policy generally will necessitate tho frequent representation of the Dominions for many years to come. The need of adapting ourselves to new conditions is so obvious that concrete proposals on the subject from the British Government; and from our own Ministers may be expected in the hear future. It is as well that the people of this country should consider the nature of the problem to be solved in order that they may deal with such proposals when they are made. A possible solution was suggested by tho British _ Government in August last when it decided that each Dominion should have the right "to nominate a visiting or resident Minister in London to be

a member of the Imperial "War Cabinet at meetings other than those attended by the Prime Ministers." Although this invitation speaks of tho War Cabinet it has been commonly assumed that the British Government's intention was and is to invito the Dominions to ■ send Ministerial representatives to sit 011 an Imperial Cabinet after the war. Even if the broad proposal is accepted, as it is likely to be, some difficult questions will still await adjustment. A resident _ Minister, permanently stationed in London during his term' of office, would .hardly make a satisfactory representative, because ho would soon be out of touch with New _ Zealand opinion. A visiting Minister, able to keep in close touch with his colleagues and with public opinion in 'this country and free to spend as much time as necessary in London, might •answer requirements reasonably well. At tho same time it seems not more evident that the frequent representation of the Dominion- in. London henccforth is essential than that the Prime Minister cannot be the representative selected except on rare and infrequent occasions. As recent experience has demonstrated, his regular absence even at intervals of twelve months would bo liable to throw internal affairs out of gear to an extent that would speedily become'intolerable. ' But should this Dominion- and others decide to appoint visiting Ministers it will not be altogether an matter to determine the' status and authority of these representatives. In order that, he might efficiently carry out his duties such a Minister would evidently have to bo invested with an authority second only to that of the Prime Minister himself. On some big questions' he could be given specific instructions, but in regard to many matters of great importance he would of necessity exercise a wide discretion. If it were'possible to fully control a Ministerial representative in\London_ much of the reason for sending him there would disappear. Other difficulties might be cited, but if the problem is attacked in the right spirit no difficulty need prove Insuperable. At' the.stage reached in Imperial development special representation of the Dominions in London seems to be the only measure that will enable them at once to give due attention'to the responsibilities and benefits of Imperial partnership, ; and to concentrate as they should upon their local affairs. 1