THE PRIME MINISTER'S DUTY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 508, 15 May 1909, Page 4

THE PRIME MINISTER'S DUTY.

There is nothing definite to record to-day aa to the intentions of Sir Joseph Ward in respect of the Imperial Naval Oonfcronce at which his presence seems to be desired by the Home authorities. Wo have littlo doubt that Sin Joseph would do himself and tho Dominion credit if ho found himself able to attend this important gathering, and we are sure that, under certain conditions, nobody would object if he decided to go to London. It is very necessary that tho country should know what those conditions arc. At tho present moment New Zealand has reached a vory important stage in its political history. The national finances havo got into a very bad state, necessitating tho earliest possible and the fullest possible consideration of the situation by Parliament. The Government's retrenchment scheme involves such important changes in Departmental administration that the attention of Parliament must not be diverted from them. The general elections showed that on more than one important question the country requires something in the way of revising legislation. In short, there was never greater need than thero is to-day for a full and undisturbed session of Parliament. The problems calling for discussion are momentous and pressing. There must be no delay in beginning the work of setting our house in order. These are the dominant facts of the situation which lies before the Prime Minister, and his decision must be based on a recognition of their paramount importance. There are only'two courses open to the Government of which , the country can approve. -The first is'the representation, of New Zealand at the Conference by a proxy acting for Sir Joseph Ward. Tho second is the dispatch of Sir Joseph himself on the understanding that the normal sessional arrangements shall not bo interfered with. There is a third course which might bo pursued, but it is one which the country will emphatically disapprove, and which, • indeed, is utterly indefensible frpm any .point , of viewnamely, the summoning of Parliament to grant supplies, and the postponement of further business for somo months to enable the Prime Minister to visit London. Such an arrangement would be quite intolerable. The business of the country is too important to be made subject to the convenience of the Government or of the Prime Minister. Even, if that objection to the third course wore' wanting, it would be quite a sufficient condemnation of it that a hurried session lasting for fivo or six weeks in the early slimmer, when members, would be ■ impatient for the end from the very beginning,- would guarantee a-mishandling of the affairs by its. Parliamentary representatives. But there is another consideration which may have, still greater weight with the Prime Minister. To ask Parliament to go away, and play till he came back would be a rather more frank confession of the Government's weakness than the Prime Minister may caro to make. Ho is not, we are sure, very anxious to admit that his Government cannot carry on the country's business in his absence..' That, however, is what would be admitted by a request for the prorogation of Parliament. after. a shbrt session 'tb "grant supplies. It is suro to be> urged, of oourse, that there is a' precedent for such a proceeding as this, but a bad precedent cannot possibly be.hold .to weigh .against',the sound rule that every situation must be considered on its own merits. • As Sir Joseph himself said in his recent speech in'lnvercargill, referring to another subject; "in everything the : ciroumstances and necessity materially alter cases." In this case, there is no.necessity for a post--1 ponement of Parliament's , work in ■ the event of the Prime Minister deciding to visit London himself. In our opinion, ; the real' question that tho Prime Minister has to decide is' whether the domestic concerns of the country' or its interests and duties in the matter of the Navy most require his personal attention. He mußt. put out of his mind altogether the idea that he must keep Parliament waiting in order that he may personally attend to both. If ho thinks his colleagues can get along without him, the problem before him becomes easy. If, on the other hand, he feels that they will be helpless if left to themselves, he will hardly let. his suspicion; becomo. apparent by asking for a postponement of Parliament. '