The Daily News. TUESDAY, MAY 18. THE PREMIER AND THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

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

The Daily News. TUESDAY, MAY 18. THE PREMIER AND THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

J-he Statement made by the lion. J. A Millar at Ureyniouth yesterday that i' Beenß as H W>e Premier must gu Home would seem to be fraught with possi bilities that do not appear on tile sur face. Only business of the gravest im portance would, in our opinion, temp the Premier to leave Xew Zealand a a time when his presence in the Xev Parliament is so vitally essential to tli country in tlx: first place, and to hi party in the second. Tile anxiety o the Imperial Government t u secure hi attendance, and their oner to poscpon the conference to suit his convenience would seem to indicate that the Horn authorities regard the Conference as o | vital importance tu the Empire, am view with some anxiety the question o placing the naval defence of the Empir on a new footing to meet the cliang ing conditions consequent on the growt! of rival navies in hitherto safe waters Xo doubt the Government is in posses sion of information relating to the nava position Ulat is not common Unoivledgiand lias a fuller appreciation of tie pnsi tion than has been given to the pub' i At tile same time, and although W. support the aims of the promoters ■■ the Xaval Conference, and the direc representation of .New Zealand by i competent delegate, it had not seriousl; occurred to our mind tiiat the Premie should undertake the duty at this parti cular time. As a, representative, it wi l not be questioned that lie is the libles New Zealand could send, but in the par ticular circumstances, in that lie wi! not be able to meet his first Parliament and at its most critical period, it seem to us to point to tile luet that I'm- Con ference is of such deep import to Xev Zealand as to demand his personal at tendance. Jt has been suggested tha in the event of the Premier going Horn nil arrangement might be come to be tween the Government and the Opposi ■tion to postpone the session proper til after the Premier's return. Parliainen assembling on the summoned date mere ly to pass supply. In view of tile im portance of the forthcoming session, am the unique nature of the proceeding that apparently demand the Premier' attendance in London, the proposal wil 110 doubt receive serious consideratioi: .Judging from the statement lie mad to a Press representative iu Wellingtoi last evening, the. Premier is loth. t' relinquish his hold 011 the rudder of tli ship of State at the present juncture find does not desire to make the trij over which lie intends consulting Par liament, a proceeding which iu the cir cuinsiUnices will meet with general ap proval.