Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MAY 29, 1911. THE PREMIER'S FALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10250, 29 May 1911, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MAY 29, 1911. THE PREMIER'S FALL.

The Prime Minister of New Zealand; has. sustained .thiehiggesitfall at the Imperial Conference in London that he has (suffered during the wluoJe of his political career. With an assiira;nce that is little short of astoundiug, he projected .a sdheme ,having for .its object itlie revolutionising of the whole system of British. Govea-n----ment. IThe- Opposition in the New Zealand 'Parliament .implored Sir Joseph ito give the representatives of the people an opportunity of knowing what (lie intended doing at the Conference. The Prime Minisiter, however, dedlined to afford either Parliament or Press iaai indication of has intentions, and it was not until, he reached Sydney that the details of his isciheme were outlined. The leading newspapers of Australia scouted the proposals as impracticable, but Sir Joseph was inot discouraged. He was determined to make the' .name of Ward' stand out in British history as that of the maai who saved the Empire. But it was not to be. The delegates, at the Conference treated the resolution of New Zealand's Prime Minister almost with contempt. The Right Hon. H. H. Asquitih came upon a, with a sladge-ttiaimimer criticisan, which reduced the whole scheme to a pulp of absurdity. He told Sir Joseph plainly and distinctly that the Imperial Parliament- was mot going to surrender one particle of its prerogative, an'd tlhat a. movement such as that outlined was opposed to the fundamental principles of British Government;. The cable .says that the Prime Minister of 'New Zealand accepted the unanimous rejection of liis proposal "with equanimity." What other course was opeai to him ? He luiad .succeeded in .making himself and New Zealand look supremely ridiculous in the eyes of the world, and lie retired as gracefully as does a midget terrier, after it ihlas beefn growled at by a mastiff or Newfoundland giant. One would feel inclined to .sympathise with. Sir Joseph in his 'humiliation, wore it not for the fact that he deliberately courted a. isnub, and refused either to seek or to tako advice. It is to he .hoped that the

ill-advised proposal of the Prime Minister will not 'seriously prejudice New Zealand in the ©yes of the British public, or render nugatory any other suggestions "which may 'be made by our distinguished ambassador at the Conference, though it is bound to have an influence in this direction. Sir Joseph, has been taughit a bitter lesson; but it will not .be too costly if it impresses the constituencies with. tQie foot that tliey are trusting their destinies in tlie hands of a gentleman, whose Imperialism is ias crude as are his ideas of statesman ship.