The Dominion and the Empire.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15464, 17 December 1915, Page 5

The Dominion and the Empire.

Last month we had a cable message quoting some observations by 'The Times" upon the visit which it was supposed Mr Massey and Sir J. G. Ward were about to pay to London. The message reached us in a form that suggested that the news of such a visit had been authoritatively given out in England. The arrival of the English j mail enables us to see' that ''The | Times" based its comments only upon a statement telegraphed by its New Zealand correspondent that it was "understood*' that Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward would "leave in the " middle of l>eeember to attend an " Imperial Council in London." Another New Zealand correspondent, repeating that the visit had been decided upon, said that there was no question of an Imperial Council being held. In its comments "The Times" expressed til,, hope that the Colonial Office had found it possible to secure the presence of responsible Ministers from the other Dominions at the same time. "Such "a meeting," it said, "would have | "great advantages."' Now we recog- I niso. as everyone must, that conferences between the British Government I

f and representatives of the self-govern-ing parts of the Dominion Are good things, but the special "great advantages" of a conference at the present time are not. we confess, at all obvious to us. There are some subjects which it would not be inappropriate to discuss jat a Loudon conference, and others which would be quite inappropriate. ! The appropriate subjects happen to be those the discussion of which is also superfluous—subjects which ran be ! quite adequately treated without the j setting of chairs round a council table l and without the calling of Dominion j Ministers from their own posts. Tho only subjects which really might re- ! quire an Imperial Council to discuss | them happen to bo subjects which it is I inappropriate to tak.i in hand just j now. Post-war tariffs, details of tho ! .'eitlement of the war, a new constituj tion for the Empire—thes 0 are obviI ously subjects the discussion of which , cannot be considered urgent or oven appropriate until the Allies have entered ! upon th ( . l"f>t stage of the smashing 0 f ; Germany. Before thnt is reached. I a long time must elapse. On the brond question of policy, the opinion and desires of .Vow Zealand are so clear and simp! 0 that, nobody need 20 to Britain to explain them. If there still remains any suggestion that a visit from Mr Ma»sey. accompanied or unaccompanied by any 0 r his colleagues, will enable New Zealand more effectively to co-operate in the war, it is a sufficient, reply that the limited opportunities of New Zealand cannot be extended through tilth a visit, and that Xew Zealand knows exactly what to do, and can easily continue to proceed on th 0 existing lines laid clown as the result of Imperial advice. Finally, if it, were urged that the moral effect of such a visit as is talked of'would be good, we should feel tempted to say that any attempt to enhance, the moral effect of the Australasians' work I in Gallipoli would be ju tho naturo of j an anti-climax. While there am no visible reasons why Mr Massry and Sir .7. G. tr., rf i .should visit London in tho measurable future, there are good reasons why they should stay here and direct the activities of their country. Most people, asked to think seriously whether th 0 Prime Minuter and Minister of Finance can be easily spared at this difficult time, possibly soon to be" more difficult, will have little hesitation in answering "no."