CALL To LONDON

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1921, Page 2

CALL To LONDON

MR MASSEY TO GO. A MOST URGENT SUMMONS. PARLIAMENT TO SIT FOR A WEEK

[_I!Y. TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

WELLINGTON, Eeb. 7

Mr Massey stated to-day that a cablegram had been received by the Government from Mr Lloyd George, through the Secretary of State lor Colonies, stating that the matters to be dealt with in the coming Imperial Confer- ( ence were of such urgent importance that New Zealand should be represented by the Prime Minister, and asking that Mr Massey should be present if it is at all possible. Cabinet, at a meeting decided that Parliament be convened on March It), so that if it approves, the necessary arrangements may be made. In such case, Sir Francis'Bell will remain in New Zealand and take the positioned Acting Prime Minister until the return of Mr Massey. “This early session of Parliament,” added the Prime Minister, “will be only a short one, lasting a week or ton days, the sole object being to decide whether to accept the invitation and vote the necessary supplies.” He could not publish the cable, but (showing it in confidence to the pressmen present), lie said it referred to very important matters indeed, which aere to come before the Conference, and in his time nothing so strong in the wav of an invitation to attend a conference ahd ever come from the Imperial Government to the Government of this country. The March session would practically be only a formal one. If Parliament thought that the Prime Minister could be spared, in view of the important events taking place here, well and good. II not, the Government must make an arrangement in some other direction. If he went Home it would mean another session later in the year, commencing not later than October 1, and probably before the end of September, allowing six weeks for the Conference and sis weeks both -e----ing Home and coming back. ■ His going Home, he said, would net involve throwing overboard the possibility of dealing with the question of Customs Tariff revision this year. It had been arranged for some time that .Mr Hughes (Prime Minister of the Australian Commonwealth)* was to attend the Conference.