Parliamentary Business and Peace Prospects.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16360, 4 November 1918, Page 6

Parliamentary Business and Peace Prospects.

"With ©vents moving so rapidly towards momentous conclusions in the various theatres of war, it is possible that the representatives to take part in tho Peace Conference may be summoned far sooner than any of us anticipated. "We shall know very soon whether Germany' intends at onco to bow to the inevitable, or whether the military party is strong enough to prolong a hopeless struggle, and bring about the useless slaughter of further hecatombs of their fellow-countrymen. Should Germany adopt the prudent course of surrendering at discretion, it is certain that the Peace Conference will bo called together without delay. In some quarters this prospect has been used, as an argument) in favour of the immediate appointment of a resident Minister in London to represent New Zealand in accordance with the proposal of the British Cabinet. We havo no hesitation in saying, however, that even if there were a resident Minister in London at this moment it would still be necessary for the Primo Minister to attend the Peace Conference. To send a subordinate Minister would not be respectful to the British Government, to the Governments of our Allies, or to President Wilson, who will certainly bo present in person at what, without exaggeration, may bo termed tho most momentous oonclave in the world's history. It is of the utmost importance to New Zealand that the Prime Minister 6hall be present, in order to give due weight to our views in regard to the future of the Pacific and otlicr matters. Australian public opinion in regard to the possessions taken from Germany is in accordance with Now Zealand opinion, and it is due to our Australian kinsmen that tho New Zealand Prime Minister should be present at the Conference to support, with thefull weight and authority of tho Cabinet, tho claim which the Australian Primo Minister will certainly put forward that the islands which have been taken from the Germans by British ships and British troops shall remain in British hands, j If the Primo Minister may be called away at any moment, it is obvious that there should be as little delay as possible in proceeding to the essential work of Parliament. Wo hope, therefore, that the debate on the Address-in-Reply, which is useful under ordinary conditions in giving Ministers an opportunity of gauging tho feeling op members and time to frame their proposals, will be brought to a close as soon as possible. The Government should lose no time in bringing down its financial xjroposals, and letting the country know what progre6B has been made towards solving the reconstruction problems, which will face the Government in the near future. In our opinion too much time has already been lovt before framing a comprehensive scheme of repatriation for our re>j turned soldiers, together with a large and well-concoived plan of colonisation, j to bring about the necessary expansion !of our resources. If the Primo MinI ister is oalled away before Parliament' has a full opportunity of dealing with these important questions, it will not only be a serious reproach to tho Government which has thus allowed itself to be caught napping, but o disaster to the Dominion, which will not find it) easy to overtake the consequences of such delay and neglect.