PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 109, 8 June 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

AN INFORMAL MEETING. IMPERIAB CONFERENCE REPRESENTATION. THE PREMIER TO GQf HOME. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. As informal meeting of members < i Parliament to consider the rqncscnta tion of the Government at the impei'ia. . Naval Conference and whether Parlia meiit adjourn to enable the Premier tu attend, opened at three o'clock. Even seat in the House and gullcriw was occupied by members of both Houses. Having stated that he would not ask for the appointment of a chairman but would himself preside,. Sir Joseph Ward explained that he had called the members together in the only way possible under tjie circumstances.* Members of the Upper House hatl been invited to br present, not to take part in the general disduieion but to hear what had to be «aid, and thei consider the matter separately. Ufltil a. decision was arrived at as to THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE j SESSION It was impossible to inform the British Government whether the Dominion would be represented. He was glad, to see Mr. Massey present, as he was always desirous to recognise the position of the Leader of the Opposition, realising that he could only act with the general co-oiperation of members. He felt it was better he should come before them and make a general statement and be guided by the general sense of the members assembled. He that if - the representation of New Zealand was J® ,P®ybj the Prime Minister and Parwere to adjourn, the .Jiecessarv stqps would be taken to get ■ AN EXTENSION OF SUPPLIES, and the speech from_ the, throne would be a short one. If the liousc decided that-the Government should not Ire represented then his' Excellency would iiave to bc-advised ditferently. If the invitation were refused the Government ' would lay itself opwi to a charge of indifference. The conference was an epoch-making one. . MR. TAYLOR AND THE PREMIER. < Mr. T. E. Taylor asked how it was ' that the Commonwealth had accepted the invitation without taking the course Sir Joseph Ward had adopted. Sir Joseph- Ward said he would answer ftiyr questions later, Continuing, he eaid the time had arrived for Parliament to say .whether it would uphold the offer of a Dreadnought or two to the British Government, and he would ask Parliament ■'■ to say aye or nay, also to say whether the Dominion should be represented at the conference. He intimated that a despatch which was expected haft not reached his' Excellency, as- apparently the Home Government was awaiting the result of this conference.

THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER. The Prime Minister then read voluminous correspondence which had passed respecting the Dreadnought offer and .various despatches between the British and Jfew Zealand Governments, the 6ubStance of all of which has already been published. He estimated that the necesMJy loan could be raised at 3 per cent., .VFhich, with one. per cent, sinking fund added, would amount to £BO,OOO a year a. not too heavy insurance on commerce.' : Cabinet had .entirely concurred in the .whole proposal and his Excellency was asked to submit it to the British Government. A despatch had also been received in which, the New Zealand Government asked to be represented » at the Imperial Conference to be held in July, and a further one expressing the lope that Sir Joseph Ward as Minister w Defence would see his way to be present. Continuing, the Premier said the Government could not agree to the suggestion that someone not a Minister of the Crown should represent the Dominion at such an important conference, •which, the Secretary of State had intimated, had, among other things, to consider the offer of a Dreadnought or two from New Zealand. The Home Government desired the representativs of pv«rsea Dominions to be nresent, and - tie responsibility was upon Parliament to say whether'and by whom New Zealand should be represented. The confcrence wa>of an unprecedented character, sttd the Ministry was unanimously oliw" 011 .. ,' at 9Ueh a " important igathenng the head of the Government onght to represebt the Dominion. (Ap-

" INDECENT SUGGESTION " !j?ii ' hC { l !J d « ent a telegram to the editors of the fWand had not seen fit ant V!S , r telc B ram to members'. Trf,'J' •:J a - vlor: Rcad the telegram, i Will d() so if you don't. ■ Sir Joseph retorted that Mt. Tavlor ,f° so - "P> e .telegram was marked confidential" and he had sent it to the editors of the Press. It re- ? r S™ eilitor in Xew Zealand to refer to the message. He had nevei OZHf V ole career disclosed the flfhad found 1 . COnfidential *"»»• THE EDITORS OF THE PRESS

reasonable men without exception.' He had intended at the conclusion of the iceeting reading the telegram if inemoers' wanted it after he had removed the .words "strictly confidential." If a men,! to of the House -who was in possession of sueh a telegram saw fit to rend it Jie could do so. ' . At your invitation? 1n rL i° V 'you threatened sh, 'f' 3 "'! llsaid I I said J°n e°«'d do so. Bir Joseph said that in connection with ttas offer ha had declined to look at ,thM_ matter from a party point of view. +W e 'W • i" sllcll a question they ought to rise above partr," At the time that the offer was made' the • GOVERNMENT KNEW SOMETHING which had jiot then been made public, and which they then thought justified them in- making the offer that was now being discussed throughout the country. The action of the Government pad been confirmed and applauded as Being in the best interests of the EinJire. Sir Joseph quoted from a speech delivered by Lord Charles Reresford in iWuch he stated: "It the couatrv knew the_ true position there nvould' be o pame." „™ T ' Taylor: He made several otheT / "after-dinner" .speeches later. . Sjr-Joseph: The one I refer to was j not an after-dinner speech. The Pro jnier. maintained it was not a fair proposition to ask the House to go on in Parliament without its leader, e?ipeci<il* g with new menibers and new Ministers He did not believe Mr. lla]l-Jo:ioo. if asked, would accept the position of representative at the conference, unlets Ii« were Premier, with authority to act. Jft tW conference a private on.-> If menibers agreed to'his goin« to thp conference and the Hou*e adjourned, he Prop oß "* to p.ak the House to resume on 30th Septemfaec. . ) A RESOIiUTIOX.

Mr. Massey as'ked for a specific reso lution.

Sir Joseph Ward said all business could be got through well in time. He had asked Mr. T. Duncan to move a resolution. i • Mr. Duncan moved to the effect tint .the Premier should represent the CJoTBtTlUiflttt at the conference and that Parliament should adjourn until September 30. 1 Oo ue suggestion of Mr. Mnssev, the •f-eeviiir adjourned at 5.15 until 7.30 to a.iuw the memoranda to be printed, i MASSEY'S VIEWS. On resuming at 7.30, the Premier callrd . apon Mr. Massey to speak to the roliom Mr. Masstey said he.did not intend to rfnerfk at great length, but would make lite points clearer than the Premier, fcad no objection to the proceeding.- - repprted in Hansard, but he ob

lecled to the meeting teing treated as part of Parliament. What was being | , . dciie now wag in no way binding upon membere of Parliament. All knew the important events which had taken place in-Britain recently, a<ul all knew that . It <*ouM necessitate an important ,eba/ige uj the defence policy of the cob- . liieg, but there was no need for heroics and theatrical display. He-would like to Jciwy was the defence policy t nin,on? wuntrv in the doinimons had spent so much on Oefcrfce to so little effect. It was an imquestion to 'be considered l»v yy ctt t. bow the defences of tlie should be put in n proper All were agreed that Xew 5 - U,<l lje proper'v represented <sMit the Defence Conference. (Opposition ? rs ,' - appeared that the ' -"jit? - ma,!e «P" Jiis mind to go ' let kil " said the sjwakC.i"™ s no analogy between the ''ivMiin?'l 18W and the l»«Miit one. WxISSLi *f* en u WJue occasion—the mTi. Ce . o/ Victoria. v «S&. J^ rem ' (!r " W,9, ' t Home to the WSL*?** conference. he left a ™ ? to c » rr y °li the business of !f" C enil ® r now sn ''l 1,0 did not wish business to go he could not

VII MAX WAS INDISPENSABLE, I mil il the Premier, Mr Massey and others tfere out of Parliament, the business 1 of lie country would still go on. It was lie duty of tilt l Premier to have eon.nltoil tlit* Leader of the Opposition, vlio re-presented nearly ei]iml to liulf the ;iliabitants. if he did not want the cry •f party raised, hut he did not do it. le poinlel to tile financial position of he country and the necessity of provid•ig for public works and other matters vithout delay. This was one of the nost important sessions' in the historv ■f the country, and ought to be proceed■d with. Tlie Premier should go to lie conference, but it was not to be held hat every time a conference was held a London Parliament was to be postponed. lie hoped before the Premier went he would give the country an indication as to the lines of action he intended to take up at the conference. After having assisted the Empire, we should LOOK TO OUR OW.\ T DEFENCE

and he advocated a proper subsidy to the Imperial Navy as a better method of assistance than the gift of Dreadnoughts. He hoped the motion would be divided into two parts, to allow the meeting to decide whether the Premier should go Home, and if so, whether I arhament should 'be adjourned. Replying to Mr. Taylor, Sir Joseph declined to answer questions, Mr. T. E. Taylor said there was NO XEED FOR WARMTH

in connection with the discussion. R°ferring to the question previously asked by him in regard to an official communication, Hie protested against itbein" marked confidential, and not disclosed to members, who should have had the whole of the despatches read to them. He did not believe the Imperial authorities would accept the Dreadnought offer. The tone of the despntch received by the Government (lid not indicate that it was necessary for the Dominion to bis represented by the Premier. Mr. Taylor contended thaj the conference was not more important than the business of New Zealand. The Premier's personal desire to figure on the Imperial sta"» was largely responsible for his attitude. There was absolutely no renson for postponing the business of the session, and a subsequent session of two months would necessitate important business being deferred. A MOT [OS AGREED TO.

Sir Joseph Ward consented to divide the motion, and the file I portion, authorising the Premier to attend tile conference, was agreed to. THE WIRE TO THE EDITORS.

Following is the text of the telegram sent to the and marked "Urgent, take precedence," read i>y Mr. T..-E. Taylor: ''Editors of all papers (wjiere message re battleship is sent); strictlv confidential. I have sent vou an important telegram for publication in connection with the British Navv. I would like to impress upon you that the situation is much graver than is generally supposed, or has been published, and the offer that the Government has made is one which we know will greatly help Great Britain in the present crisis, clhiefIy by virtue of the moral effect and, as illustrating to Germany- that the British dominions will rally round the Mother L-ountry in time of imminent danger as is apparent at preeent. In gueli a situation, I have felt that narrow considerations of pounds, shillings and pence ! should yield to our plain duty to Britain national existence is threatened, •and, therefore, feel it my duty to tell you confidentially our motive and desire to avoid publication of anything alarmlng and, .hence llave niade this strfctlv confidential.—J. G. WARD."

OPINIONS OF OPPOSITION MEMBERS.

Mr. Fisher complained that the despatches were not published earlier so as to give members more time to consider them. He gave at length his views on defence matters.

Messrs Herdroan, Malicolm and Lan» opposed the prorogation or Parliament. The Second part, ''That Parliament after making the necessary financial arrangements to enable the business of the country to proceed, be adjourned," "I Jame6 Alle " moved aa SlTw t°h u cffect that li was <*- shm,M I th f bu . sl , ness of the session Thp P loc ® e d without interruption. was ZT; fn' for t,ie cor| f er eneo was the action of Canada indeeidino. to .I 11 * h j" °»™ defence. He strSno1} opposed the motion for the tram of Parliament. Had the Premie leallv looked upon the matter from a trn.f if- P ° lnt ° f view - )le Wollll > have durinn h t0 Carr - V on tlle work during h s aosence. The action of the Prenner ~, reteing to go nniess Pari,',! ment adjourned was an attemnt <n coerce the members.

THE PREMIER'S REPLY. „« lr .said Mr. Allen shouM V.!' n °t' c e of hw amendment. He -n»lr iI - • i P' ersonal equation had ntered his mind in coniicction with th» Minfc rente. He denied that there were ißveral thousand unemployed. The floIm'lwV h f d <I - Cide ' 1 t0 ac( ) uire la "d in both Islands with a view to assisting meat. 81 ' 118 "'' rfltlre(l ""J'' l ' retrenct (Left Sitting).