The Sun FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1914. IMPERIALISM AND SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 84, 15 May 1914, Page 6

The Sun FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1914. IMPERIALISM AND SIR JOSEPH WARD.

One of the most diverting chapters in the history of the relations between New Zealand and the Mother Country is to be found in the minutes of the Imperial Conference, 1911, published about two years ago as a Parliamentary paper. It is the record of the discussion on Sir Joseph Ward's hare-brained scheme for. ther creation of an institution which he sometimes calls an "Imperial Council" and at other times a "parliament of defence," as the spirit moves him. Th 6 scheme which was so vast that it involved the complete of the political machinery of the United Kingdom and the various dominions was hatched by Sir Joseph Ward and Sir John Findlay, on the way to England. Neither the Parliament nor the people of New Zealand were given the slightest inkling of Sir Joseph's momentous proposals prior to his departure, doubtless for the very good reason that they hadn't then occurred to him. As was to be expected, the attitude of the other members of the Conference was one of polite, amazement that 1 a responsible statesman should father such an impracticable.., proposition, and their cross examination: of Sir Joseph Ward, in the. effort to '.discover what he really meant must have'' been as amusing to then! : as it was humiliating to New Zealand. Most men would be glad enough to'forget the I episode, but 'Sir Joseph, at Ma'rton last night, tried to suggest that his proposals were analogous to, and in a measure' anticipated those being put forward in England as a solution of the difficulty that has arisen, oyer Home Rule. Nothing could be more absurd, or farther from the truth. Federalism as -aii alternative to Home >Ruie was put forward thirty years ago and at one time had the support of. Mr Chamberlain. But needless to say, there was nothing :of a federal , character about Sir ; Joseph Ward's proposals at the Imperial ; Conference. Hia original .resolution ; proposed to create "an 'imperial Council, of State with representatives; • from all, the : constituent parts of- the Empire, whether selfgoverning or not, in theory and in fact advisory to his ; Majesty 's government on all questions affecting the interests of his Majesty's Dominions overseas." Thb 'debate that followed had so little bearing on the resolution, that when it came to an 'end one of; the Australian representatives objected to voting on the resolution because it had ! not been discussed! 1 Discretion being the better part of valour Sir Joseph eventually withdrew it. In the course of the debate theSe highly intereisting exchanges took ; 'place:—

Sir Joseph Ward: . . . My opinion is that there ought to be established an Imperial Council or an Imperial Parliament of Defence, in the interests —— Sir Wilfrid Laurier: There is a difference between a Council and a Parliament. What dp you propose a Parliament or a Council, I want a proper definition' of' what you mean because you have proposed neither so far. Sir Joseph Ward: I prefer to call it a Parliament of Defence.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier: well. The President (Mr Asquith): That is a very different proposition to the one in yoiir resolution. Your resolution is "an Imperial Council of State" —nothing about defence —"advisory to the Imperial Government." It is limited as I understand to the resolution to giving advice. Sir Wilfrid Laurier: When it is started it is to be a Parliament. Who is going to elect that Parliament?

Sir Joseph- Ward: I will presently explain it. The President: All I can say is that that is not the resolution in any of those particulars. Sir Joseph Ward: I would point out that the resolution is "with representatives from all the self-governing parts of the Empire." Sir Wilfrid Laurier: But you say "Council." Is it a Council or is it a Parliament. It is important that we should know exactly what is the proposal. Sir Joseph Ward: I prefer to call it a Parliament.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier: Very good. Now Ave understand what you mean.

Sir Joseph Ward: I prefer to call it a Parliament although I admit there is a good deal in a naxne. Sir Wilfrid Laurier: There is everything in a name. Mr Fisher: Would it not be as well to amend your resolution 011 those lines'? Sir Joseph Ward: No. I dg not propose to amend it: if it is necessary afterwards I should have no objection. Sir Wilfrid Laurier: You propose a Council in your resolution, but you advocate a Parliament.

Sir Joseph Ward: You can call it a Council if you like.

The President: We want .to know what you call it. 1 There is much more of this kind of ■thing, • and at every turn Sir Joseph Ward betrayed the fact that he did not

know what he really meant, nor had lie very much idea what his proposals involved. None of the other delegates took Sir Joseph Ward seriously, and Sir "Wilfrid Xaurier summed the proposals up tersely when he said: ''What Sir Joseph Ward has proposed is not an Advisory Council: it is a legislative body to r be elected by the people of the United Kingdom and the Dominions beyond the seas, —a legislative body, I say, with power to create expenditure , and no power to create. revenue I must say, with all respect, and due deference to Sir Joseph Ward that the proposal seems to me to be absolutely impracticable." The other representatives including Mr Asquith, said much the same thing, and in some instances, more pointedly. But the good people of Marton have no opportunity of studying parliamentary blue books, and they no doubt went away from Sir Joseph Ward's meeting last night, convinced that he really did something at the Imperial Conference of 1911 to bring about a "true Imperial Federal Parliament.'''