IMPERIAL DEFENCE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 95, 18 May 1909, Page 2

IMPERIAL DEFENCE CONFERENCE.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S ATTENDANCE WANTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Ureymoulh, Monday. The Hon. J. A. Millar says it seems ,18 if the Premier must go Home, the authorities being so anxious to have him there ns to oiler to postpone the conference till a date to suit him. Ho would have to leave not later than June Id. The matter would he decided very shortly and arrangements announced. STATEMENT liY THE PREMIER. PARLIAMENT TO BE CONSULTED. Wellington, liist Night. "It seemed as if Sir Joseph Ward must go, usi the Home authorities were bo anxious that lie should be present," was the opinion of the Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister of Railways), telegraphed from Ureymonth to-day, and a New Zealand Times reporter asked the Prime Minister iif the question of his presence at the Naval Conference in London had been finally settled. "The date for the conference is not yet fixed, and until that is done and I am advised," replied Sir Joseph, ''it is quite impossible for me to state whether I can go to London to represent New Zealand. It is a matter that can only receive proper consideration when one knows what ie the actual date of the conference. h\ any case, with a full recognition of what my responsibilities are to the country, I could not think of going away during the currency of the iirst session of Parliament so ■soon after a general election, nor could anybody expect it as a matter of ordinary fairness to Urn country. Such a course would be obviously unthinkable, unless such arrangements were made by Parliament of which i approve." Then 'Parliament would lirst he consulted!

"Yes," answered Sir Joseph; "when I am in a position to state the date of the conference, I will then be able to consider the whole matter, mid would not under any circumstances go without consulting Parliament and receiving its authority. I fully recognise that the Naval Conference in England is one of the very greatest importance and one in which all parts of the Empire—New Zealand, of cours'e, included—are deeply concerned. There is unquestionably in naval defence a new era presenting itself to the British Empire, and a matter of 'such gigantic possibilities and far-rcach-'ing potentialities cannot be hastily considered or lightly dealt .with. I.u a matI tcr of such over-riding importance I regard it as my clear duty to meet Parliament and to confer with the people's representatives, securing their concurrence in anything that may be decided upon. The suggestion that has been made by a section of the Press that for personal reasons 1 am anxious to go is hardly worth discussion, but as you have asked me the question. 1 may say that such is not the case. First of all,'a trip to Ijondon for the .{purpose of spending ten dajs or a fortnight at the outside and returning to New Zonllind, csin scarcely ho regarded with pleasure by auyone who knows anything of a journey of the kind. 1 am fully alive to the requirements of the responsible position that I hold, but to suggest that I am anxious to go for the mere sake of going is' quite contrary to fact. If tilie conference could be held in October or November it would, in niy opinion, be a much more suitable time, lit least for New Zealand, and thnt,in the time I should like personally to see it, but we have to recognise that the Imperial Government, with a full knowledge of the whole position, has fixed a time to suit what it conceives to be best."

CAN SIR JOSEPH WARD ATTEND? Xo decision has yet been come to by the Government as to who shall represent New Zealand at the forthcoming Imperial Defence Conference, which has been postponed b v the British Government to the end of July in the hope that by'so doing it may be possible for Sir Joseph Ward to be present. "The difficulties in the 'way of Sir Joseph's nttvndance arc considerable. Parliament (says the Wellington Post) must meet before the end of June, and every indication in that the session will .be iong and full of trouble. There are. two ways by which the Prime Minister niav go to the conference with safety. He may Arrange with the Opposition not to bring forward in his absence any motion which will seriously embarrass the Government, he, on liia part, guaranteeing that no legislation of an extraordinary character shall be ■brougbt forward. That way out of the difficulty is not too easy.' Sir Joseph Ward has already sketched a. legislative programme whieih is not only I of considerable length, but which includes many measures of a controversial nature. Judging also from reported utterances the inemliers of the Opposition intend making the present session remarkable by the .strength of their criticism, especially in regard to finances, lhe Opposition, it is stated, is not inclined to make any arrangements which would mean even an aimed neutrality. Another way i„ which the presence of Sir Joseph Ward at the conference could be arranged is this: Call Parliament togetlier m June, extend the appropriations so as to enable the Government to expend money after the SlUh. June without going to the trouble of ,„, SSI „ H an Imprest Supply 1)111, prorogue and have another session beginning about the end o.f .September, That 'would of cows'e, re M nir,. the consent of the Oppox.t.on As already stated, the Government has coin,, to no decision in the matter, but in well-informed circles it is undewood that Sir Joseph Ward is very desirous .of attending the conference, ihul at present. In the face of the ','«Vl'-'-n can possibly manage it.