Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 12, 1911. THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10230, 12 June 1911, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 12, 1911. THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Sir Joseph Ward has no reason to complain of the treatment he is receiving from the cable agent in London over his doings and sayings at the Imperial Conference. It is only fair to the remaining delegates to say they are not being reported as fully for the New Zealand (newspapers a® is our own representative-, and that the relative (positions oeoopded at the Conference must not be judged by the length of the speeches cabled. Bo far as Sir Joseph Wa/nd is concerned, it would iseem itihat he is doomed to disappointment. He went to Loaiddn with the obvious intention of creating a new position in the Old Country—a (position which would be .second only to, if it did mot rival that of a member of the British Cabinet. This position would, of course, be filled by the most important personages in the Overseas Dominions, and it was not unreasonaible to suppose that the finst representative of New Zealand upon the Imperial Council would have been Sir Joseph Ward. The attempt to revolutionise the system of British Government having ignominiously failed, .Sir Joseph saw in the proposal of the Hon. L. Harcourt to set up a Standing Committee to advise the Colonial Office another position J of dignity .and responteibility vdhich amy ambitious statesman .might aspire to fill. New Zealand's Prime Minister tacitly admitted that a Committee such a.s that proposed would be a partial realization of his scheme, or dream. But the fates decreed otherwise. The delegates could not .see the necessity for a Committee which would practically be performing the functions of the High Commissioners, and the proposal was withdrawn. So have the hopes and aspirations of our Prime Minister again (been■ islhattered! It is . satisfactory to note, however, that as a result of the discussion of this proposal, Mr Harcourt has promised

that in. future full effect will be given to the resolution® of the Imperial Conferences. Tihis is an achievement in itself. It has been a matter of oomiment in the past that the resolutions of the Conference have been treated' with an air of almost disrespect by the British Cabinet. Tihe deliberations have thus been rendered nugatory. If the assurance of 'Mr BJaroourt lias the endorsement of the Cabinet—as at probably has—an important step in adadvance will have been made, and the Overseas Dominions will be recompensed iin .a measure for the disappointment of (those delegates who were striving to create positions of emolument and trust.