THE DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 15, 12 October 1921, Page 6

THE DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE

TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND SIR JOHN SALMOND SELECTED SOME COMMENT IN THE HOUSE The Primo Minister announced In tho House of Representatives yesterday that the Government had decided to send Sir John Salmond to the disarmament conference in Washington as the representative cf New Zeaiand. Sir John Salmond was formerly Soli-citor-General, and is now a Judge of the Supreme Court. The appointment apparently did not have the unanimous approval of the House, but the forms of the House did not permit of general discussion. The Leader of the Opposition wished to make a statement on the subject, but was blocked by an objection from the Labour benches. The Prime Minister said the Government considered it necessary that a representative of New Zealand should attend the disarmament conference, which would be opened in AV ashington next month. This matter had recently been receiving the very serious attention of Ministers, and an arrangement had been made that he thought would satisfy the people of tho country. It was impossible on this occasion for New Zealand to bo represented by the Prime Minister. It was almost equally impossible for Sir Francis Bell to leave New Zealand at the present time. Sir Francis Bell was specially qualified to represent New Zealand at a gathering of the kind, but he had stated definitely that he would not leave bis colleagues during the present session of Parliament. He had been in charge of the preparation of the session’s legislation for months past, and was thoroughly familiar with it. His ab.sence at the present juncture would be a very serious loss not merely to the Legislative Council, but to Parliament as a whole. Cabinet had come io the conclusion, continued the Prime Minister, that for several reasons it was not desirable to send a member of tho Government to the Washington conference. That had been agreed to unanimously by Cabinet. Tho Government, therefore, had looked round for a man who would be well qualified to represent the Dominion, and to place the views of this country before the conference. "We selected Sir John Salmond to go to Washington as the representative of this country, and he has accepted the position” said Mr. Massey. "I do not need to tell the members of this House that he is one of the best authorities of the Empire on constitutional law. He is well known as a distinguished lawyer even on the other side of the world." Air. Hanan (Inveroargill): Isn’t it a disarmament conference? Mr. Massey: I know tho honourable gentleman’s point. It is spoken of gem erally as a disarmament conference, and I am calling it that for want of a better name We will see what it is later on. Sir John Salmond is recognised as a great authority on constitutional law, and I feel absolutely certain he will be a strength to the members of the British delegation when ho goes to AVashington. Air. AVitty (Riccarton): Surely it is necessary lo have a Minister? Mr. Massey: AVe have entered upon a very important session. Ministers hands are full and are likely to bo full- between now and Christmas, and perhaps for some time afterwards. I think a better arrangement has been made than if a Minister had been taken away from his duties in Wellington at present. Mr. Sullivan (Avon): The appointment is not a compliment to Parliament Mr. Veitch (Wanganui): Entirely wrong in principle. Mr. Alassey: Members are entitled to their opinions, but there will be no more capable representative at the conference than Sir John Salmond. Mr. Witty: I believe that is true. Air” M'Combs (Lyttelton): Would it not be well to submit a motion to Parliament for approval or disapproval? Air Alassey: I think there will be very little’ difference of opinion in this House A huge majority would be in favour ot sending him on account of his special qualifications. Mr. Holland (Buller): Will he have power to make commitments? Air. Alassey: No representative who wont there, with the exception of the Prime Alinister. would have any power to commit the country. Even the Prime Minister would not commit the country •to anything important. The point is that ho will bo able to toll the members of th' British delegation the position we are in to-day from th© defence point of view, and express the ideas of the people of this country. While -he is absent his; place on- tho Supreme Court Bench will be filled by ©x-Judge Chapman, so that no inconvenience will be caused to the country in that respect, and no inconvenience will bo caused to Parliament by a Minister going away.” Air Holland: Is it not rather a departure from practice to take a Judge from tho Bench and give him a political status The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Wilford) indicated at this stage that he would like an opportunity to make some comment on the Prime Ministers stateW Mr. M'Combs asked if other members of the House would have similar opportunity. , , , The Speaker said that it had been customary in the P ast - J? y inclniffence of tho House, to allow the Leader ot the Opposition io speak after the Prime Alinister had made a statement to the House. But the questions mentioned by the Prime Minister in such a statement were never opened up for general discussion. Was it the pleasure of the House that the Leader of the Opposition should be allowed to make a statement? Air. Af'Combs: Can I move an amendment ? , , The Speaker: No. You can make objection. You cannot movo am amendment. There is no question before the House. Mr. Holland (leader of the Labour Party): I don't think anyone wants to object to Air. Wilford having this opportunity, but my views would bo decided very largely by whether or not the same privilege would be extended to these benches. The Speaker: That is entirely for the House. The usual thing is for the Leader of the Opposition to reply. The Speaker asked the House for an expression of opinion as to whether Air. AVilford should bo allowed to speak. There was a chorus of "Ayos, ’ but Air. Af'Combs said "No.” Under the rules of the House a statement "by indulge once” cannot bo made unless consent is unanimous. The Speaker: The honourable member objects? Air. M'Combs: Yes, unless that point is settled.

Later on. in n question without notice, Air. AVilford asked the Prime Alinister whether it was not a fact that the British representatives, on behalf of tho Empire, would be tho ones who would lie consulted, and would deal with the Great Powers, while anybody whom we might send would be there merely in a representative capacity to give advice on any matter that might arise. He asked,

further, was it not-a fact that this was not a disarmament conference, but a conference called to try and evolve a policy of disarmament? That wa.s what ho had wished to bring out had he been permitted to speak. Air. Alassey said that Air. AVilford had been very clever in the manner in which he had managed to express his opinion on a very important point. The name of the conference had never seemed to him to fit, but it was the name by which it. was generally known. Whether _ a policy would be evolved it was quite impossible to say at the present time, and he did not think that it would bo right for him to express any opinion that might prejudice the position. Air. AVilford: That is what it is for? Air. Massey: "Yes.” So far as the other point was concerned, continued the Prime Alinister, that, was what had really happened at the Peace Conference. The greatest part of the work was done at the delegations. The British delegation met every day, and all the representatives had an opportunity of expressing their opinion. Only that afternoon ho had received a letter from the other side of the world stating that a Mr. Christie was going from Canada to represent that country at the conference. He was a very well-known lawyer in Canada, and had been at the Paris Conference. Ho did not think the process would be any different at this conference. There was just this, and in saying it he was not trying to magnify his office. He believed that had the Prime Alinister been able to go he would have had an opportunity of speaking. A man could bo just as useful, however, without being able to, speak. That was the experience at Paris. So far as Sir John Salmond's qualifications were concerned, he did not think there was anyone in New Zealand who understood the position or the sentiments of the people better; this arising from his long experience as sSolicitor-General. Air. Wilford: I do not know if you know that he is an accepted legal authority >.l America. Mr. Alassey: I have already said that he is a very well-known man on the other side of the world.SAMOAN CHIEF JUSTICE The Alinister of External Affairs (Hon. E. P. Lee) told the House of Representatives yesterday that Air. AVilson, Chief Justice of Samoa, was returning to New Zealand for family reasons. In due course a successor would be appointed. Air. I<ee expressed his, regret at the. necessity for a change. CROWN TENANTS In reply to a question asked in the House by Mr. G. AVitty (Riorarton) regarding Crown tenants and ihe valuation of Crown lands, the Alinister of Lands (Hon. D. 11. Guthrie) stated that in the present timo of slump the greatest consideration had to be given to th l © tenants.. Tina Government was giving such consideration not only in tho case of discharged soldiers, but in the case also of ordinary settlers on Crown land. It was trying to nurse them through tho bad times. In accordance with tho law there could not bo a revaluation till the tenant had been in possession three years, but in the meantime the Government was postponing rents Air. Witty: I know you are doing your best.