THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1909. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3208, 7 June 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1909. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

It is a considerable time since any political question has been watched with so much interest as that relating to the postponement, or otherwise, of Parliament in the event of the Premier definitely deciding to attend the Naval Conference. The situation is, no doubt, somewhat unfortunate from the Premier's point of view, but although he occupies the most responsible position that ic is possible for any individual in the country to assume, at the same time the affairs of the country must not be neglected at the pleasure of Sir Joseph Ward. We do not say for a single moment that the Premier would place his own ambition ar.d desires before matters relating to the country's welfare, and we feel sure that it would give him no pleasure to adopt a course of action that would lay him open to such a charge, but he is certainly entitled to his own opinion as to what his conduct should be, and the storm of opposition that has been engineered, more or less successfully, for party purposes in regard to the suggestion that Parliament should adjourn to allow the Premier to attend the Conference, does not appeal to U3 as being of a specially creditable character. We always believe in fair play—every Englishman does, and seeing now that the question of the hour is the defence of "An Englishman's Home," we trust tnafc all those, who have influenc3 with the public, will view the whole matter from the standpoint that would be adopted by traditional Britons. On such an occasion ic is neither for Sir Joseph Ward nor for Mr Massey to aver that he is more patriotic than his opponent. The patriotism and loyalty of both should be accepted as a matter of course. We regret, however, that party politicians—we had almost written poltroons for politicianshave attempted to make distinctions where none should be attempted. It was proposed, nobody seema to know where the proposal originated, that

Mr Massey should accompany Sir Joseph Ward to England, and Mr Massey, when interviewed concerning the suggestion by a pressman, said his course was clear. If the

work of the session was proceeded with his place was in New Zealand. Magnificent! Mr Massey 'a answer was exactly what it should ha*'e been, and the temptation to drop the curtain at the close of this theatrical scene is well nigh irresistible, but in fairness to the Premier it should be pointed out that from the moment the Naval Conference was convened, he made it clear that he would not attend if it were decided that Parliament should not be adjourned. Sir Joseph Ward has not decided for himself whether he should go or stay, and in doing so has adopted an eminently proper course. The Opposition would, no doubt, vote for the Premier to go Home, to go anywhere, in fact, so long as it meant out of power, but the palpable display of its feelings to which it has given vent, if we may accept the utterances of those journals which are of a particularly Opposition character, is somewhat unfortunate. The Premier's policy, and the Government's administration generally is so, open to most justifiable criticism of a hostile character, that the. present "roar" before the Premier has done ' anything for which he can be fairly ' blamed, is but a very tame affair. The Opposition should on occasions remember that it is not at present the ruling party, and that the head of the Government ha 3 a much more difficult part to play than the Leader of the Opposition. It should be observed that the real question is one concerning the unity of the Empire—"'Tis of union that you speak; let your words be straight and true" — and that there is such a thing as loyalty to the Empire as well as to New Zealand. The politician who to belittle the importance of the Naval Conference in July next is either a fool or a knave, or possibly both. It may be that it is in the interests of New Zealand that the Premier should attend the Conference. With such information before it, as the Premier can give Parliament, the people's representatives can decide what it is right to do In the meantime we prefer to regard questions, relating to steps that have as their object the unity and defence of the Empire as a whole, as being above and apart from politics that are of a suspiciously parochial character.