IMPERIAL DEFENCE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 101, 26 May 1909, Page 3

IMPERIAL DEFENCE CONFERENCE.

THE PREMIER'S INTENTIONS. INFORMALLY CALLING MEMBERS TOGETHER. ABIDING BY THEIR DKUSIUX. ■<fy Telegraph-Press Association, Wellington, Last Nigiit. Asked as to the aaie when t'arlia mem assembles, and as to want umrsi would be taken to determine wiieuiei he would attend the Naval Uontereiici in London, tiie Prime Minister this even ing made an important statement. He explained that parliament now stands prorogued until June lutli, and that in New Zealand no power exists to enable the Governor, wnen a day has been so fixed, to call Parliament together for any earlier date, no matter how pressim. the urgency or how great tiie ens., m England. Special stauitorv power was long since given to the King t 0 summon Parliament at any time on six days' notice, notwithstanding tiiat m had previously fixed by proclamation a later date for its meeting. Unfortunately, in New Zealand no such suumury provision exists, with the result stateu. Where, therefore, matters of urgent importance arise requiring the Government 10 ascertain the will of Parliament, " the only course open,' ,dia Sir Joseph Ward, " is one which I believe has been taken on several occasions in Englishspeaking'countries, namely, of asking the members of Parliament to informally meet and discuss the urgent matters which have arisen, and so express their opinion and their will to the Government of the day. Since his Excellency fixed June 10th next, matters of the greatest importance have arisen in connection with the naval defence of the Empire. It is not necessary- that 1 should outline what has taken "place, because the cables from England have already disclosed the situation very fully. The outcome of the situation, however, has been the convening by the Imperial Government of a conference of representatives of British self-governing dominions' to meet in London for the purpose of conferring with the Imperial authorities there, n'lm of arriving at some more satisfactory basis of Imperial naval defence than now exists. To this conference 1 have been invited by an invitation conveyed through Hig Excellency the GoVernor in terms so cordial and urgent as to induce me to think that my attendance will be viewed by the members of both Houses of Parliament not only as a matter to be considered independently of party, but as one amounting almost to a duty on my part. I cannot, however, accept the invitation without the approval of Parliament. The conference has been postponed to enable me to be present, but it has been found impossible to deter it to a date later than the last week in July. It is obvious that to enable me to attend I must be prepared to leave Jsew Zealand about the middle of June. It is clear that, assuming' Parliament meets for the despatch oj business on June 10th—the earliest date on yvhich it can—the preliminaries which this session must precede the consideration of public business would delay my ascertaining the will of Parliament too long to make it possible for me to leave at the time I have indicated. Under these circum-

stances, I am confronted by two alternatives, either that of abandoning the proposal, and at once declining tue urgent invitation I have received, or of adopting the expedient I have above referred to, namely, that of informally meeting the members of both Houses -on an earlier date than that now fixed for the assembling of Parliament., thin, in effect, enabling me to ascertain t'iwill of- Parliament upon this important question. After anxious deliberation 1 have decided that it is my plain duty to give the members an opportunity of considering this question, and the only practical method of doing so is the one lam now adopting. 1 am satisfied that whether Parliament approves or not of my proceeding to England, its members must approve of my giving them aiu opportunity of expressing the ; i will upon this question uf supreme im> portaiice. It is impossible to anticipate the momentous issues which may arise frflm this conference. It has already been referred to by a leading English statesman as an epoch-making event. The prudence of New Zealand Mug represented by its Prime Minister will, 1 think, be recognised, .when it is remembered that questions of great a.nl larreaching importance will arise for consideration and determination. The importance of the conference and the necessity for representation at it have been seen by. all the self-governing parts of the British dominions, and 1 am informed they have agreed to send representatives. The warm ami almost universal approval our proposed assistance to the Motherland has received from members of both sides of the House evinces what one might have expected, namely, that the defence of the 'Empire; and particular.!}- that most important branch of it, naval defence, is lifted above party polities and party interests info a feeling of a united desire to strengthen the hands of the Empire against her enemies and draw closer the bonds that unite it, It has been suggested that I might proceed to England and leave Parliament to continue its work. I am clearly of opinion that this would be a breach of my duty, not only to my party and to the country, out to Parliament itself, this will b■• the first session of a new Parliament, and it must be obvious to any fairminded person that the leader of the Government must this session be in his "place in the House. Any proposal, therefore, of that kind must be dismissed at once as one I should not entertain."