THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE MOTIONS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13907, 5 December 1910, Page 4

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE MOTIONS.

4 NO TIME FOR DISCUSSION. (SPECIAIi TO "THE F8E86.") WELLINGTON, December 3. In the House this evening Mr James Allen revived the suggestion, that members should be given an "opportunity of discussing the motions to be submitted to the Imperial Conference by Sir Joseph Ward. He remarked that it was regarded by many outside Parliament and beyond New Zealand, that nothing had been done by the House to ediicftte public opinion on the great Imperial questions that were to be discussed by the Conference. . Sir Joseph Ward said there would not bo tinio now for any adequate discussion of tjie motions. The best way to educate the public here and elsewhere on Imperial matters was to have the Press represented at the Conference, and this was proposed in ono of the motions which ho was to sub T mit, and of which he had given notice. He pointed out that the resolutions of the "Conference would all come before the House afterwards, and would be opehr for full discussion. Sir Massey soid it would hb better not to discuss the motions at all than not to do so properly. One day would not bo and the present occasion - was unsuitable. Ha regretted that no opportunity had been given for discussion at an earlier stag© of the session. Mr Allen asked if the Prime Minister would siibniit a motion regarding the New Hebrides question at the Conference. Sir Joseph Ward said it would have been bad form to give notice of the motions before New Zealand h?.d received invitation to tho Conference ; that was only received recently. The motions could not have been put j before the House so as to give a fort- j night to the discussion unless it had been tho last fortnight Mr Massey said the subjects could have , been ■discussed without being put in the form of motions. Siv Joseph Ward said the subjects could not have, been dissociated from the Conference, and it wouid not have looked well from beyond New Zealand. He could not give notice of motion about the New Hebrides. High International questions between Great Britain and France were involved, and only the Home Goverment should bring the matter tin. Ho would forward any representations to the British Government, who would no doubt bo only too glad to consider them and place something before the Conference.