THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3209, 8 June 1909, Page 5

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

INFORMAL MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. PREMIER AUTHORISED TO ATTEND CONFERENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 7. An informal meeting of members of Parliament to consider the representation of the Government at the Imperial Naval Conference, and whether Parliament should adjourn I to enable the Premier to attend, was ' opened at 8 o'clock. Every seat in ' the House and Galleries was occupied i by members of both Houses. ! Sir Joseph Ward explained that ho J had called members together in the j only vi ay possible under the circum- j stances. Realising that he could only [ act with general co-operation of \ members he felt it was better be j should come before them and make j a general statement, and be guided j by th? general sense of the members , assembled. He explained, that if \ the representation of New Zealand j Was to be by the Prime Minister, i and Parliament was to adjourn, the j necessary lines would be taken to j get an extension of supplies, and the, ; Speech from the Throne would be a ' short one. If the GoUSe decided that; the Government was not to be repre-1 sented then Hia S'xcelleny would j have to be advised differently. If the \ invitation was refused the Govern- j would lay itself open to a < charge of indiiference. The Prime Minister then read voluminous correspondence which had passed respecting the* Dreadnought offer and ; various despatches between the j British and New Zealand Govern- I ments, the substance of all of which J has already been published. He j estimated that the necessary loan j could be raised at 3 per cent., which j with 1 per cent, sinking fund would j amount to £BO,OOO a year—a not too I heavy inaurance on commerce. '£n£ \ Premier said that the GoYe> nmen t! would not agree to suggestion j that some one raol a Minister of' the Crown ctiould represent the Dorflihion at such an important conference. Sir Joseph said that in ; Mmection with the Dreadnought J offer he had declined to look at this matter from a party point of view, as he thought that in such a question they ought to rise above party. At the time the -offe r was made the Government knew somsthing which had no then been made putlie, and which they then thought j

justified them in making the offer i that was now being diseusse' 1 throughout the country. If m;n•' agreed to his going to the Con r and the House adjourned b' to ask the House to retember 30th. &>pMr Massey aske^ iut i? n T u 4 Sir Joseph r ness cou'" . sftfg, tb fc aU time. .a g ot ' tj, roi? gh in Mr r"&tssti [co^r c , th : .rSf^Len! should adjourr 30th. the meeting 8 fsTs o'clock until 7so / /adSoo«i«i at 5.15 o ciou* SndatobV /«<*<Wallo WthememormXT *B% v"** importa* AW thnt. '* place i t v ' .. <-h----kneW f . nad taken •T rt: 4* '> V ' P 01 "* «> ».w J.« eaßU fl„ce ?? to the defence that tie* lt^ ea S •aeotcd at • made OP s■£«££ ttinA^* 0 ,, « 0 analogy sen t on n—. i«^ c JV^S B p he\eft a county . iet rt?^ oe8B ?lSoo« t^° 1 ° n no-w sa * vhe Dot^" 1 " ,^s reptesent tla ® 0 , The I St vjas V»e wtßb business \ co,, a' not trust hIS °^ d be*divtfec hoped the otlo ; n Xw the meetins divide « he . ™° Sg' the Pnmiwto ss3S3nS5 finan Vt« coUntry Allen moved businlp 0 James Alien i l aß a P fc% t'ttfS*— 01 tateSvV &* M Mr;F'V beenp ubl. 3 Wd, aeapate^\ h f„ membelj) me®: earlier s°\ c °/$U He gge « time to ®C ofSefence m<ftte r *. length »» X!ta»S> Malcota%; MeS3l ntmOT* , Lang opp°sqP *SL Parliament \ bevo J2? T' closed)- * \