THE PREMIER AND THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 522, 1 June 1909, Page 4

THE PREMIER AND THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

, Sir,—Apropos of the sudden appeal of Sir i Joseph Ward to members of Parliament to [ allow him to represent the Dominion at the Naval Conference, a, perusal of the report of ;the speeches at the Donne banquet furnishes Very interesting,reading. Ho, said/one of the first things,they hid to consider was whether, this country was to be; fittingly represented, in the Old Land at the Naval Conference, Further, in speaking, of tho . great benefit Mr. Donne had been to New Zealand, lib instanced .where a thousand/letters per f mail had been received from oversea corre- . spondents inquiring as to lands for ■ settle- ) nient, etc. Later oil he said ho looks forward 3 quite cheerfully to the coming session, dur- . ing which ho hopes to do much good work for j the Dominion," and if there was going to bo a row ho wanted to be in it,.' Later on Mr.' k Donne himself said ho hopes to be successful [ in; attracting a largo number of desirable . emigrants to these shores. , I would like to ask the powers that be how ; they propose to carry out these most desirable propositions. The majority of tho in- ' habitants of this Dominion have held the ' opinion that in the Hon. Hall-Jones the ( country'has a thoroughly capable, honest, and cautious statesman,' whose several per- , iods of office showed him to bo possessed of | a capability to fittingly represent tho Dominion in tho highest* capacity. And I am safe in saying that the majority of lis would feel that the interests of the Dominion would bo 1 in. thoroughly safo hands if represented by him. A'further advantage would be that the country could not bo committed to any serious financial burden until ratified, by l'ar,- ' liamont, and'seeing that tho members of ' Parliament will be all assembled here, it really appears truly providential 'that the lion, gentleman is on the spot to receive their instructions. Regarding Sir Joseph's desire to do * good work this session, surely there aro sufficient subjects of urgent importance to keep tho House fully occupied for a longer.period than members will care -to undertake. First in rank of importance is tho subject of not onlj satisfying those oversea correspondents and desirable emigrants of Mr. Donne's, but of in a measure satisfying the urgent and increasing numbers of genuine applicants for lands which the Lands Department is daily receiving. fPom our own people. ~. Fully twenty thousand genuino and capablo men are anxiously waiting the opportunity of acquiring and working, a section of virgin land. Let tho Government initiate a' rigorous and , liberal lands, for Settlement policy, and the stringency of tho money market will soon disappear, and in place of leaving these shores population and capital will flow into the country. Further subjects for consideration are the reports of the Native ' Lands Commission, Timber Commission, accident ilisuranco, defence, publio works, Civil Service reform, means of replenishing tho present shortage of money, Land Bill, immigration, and, abovo all things, genuine retrenchment throguhout tho whole Government Ser- • vice. If the Prime Minister is truly desirous of benefiting tho Dominion, ho will sink his own personal desires in tho furtherance of progressive and Liberal measures for the benofit [ of the struggling community and tho ftener.il I well-being of the Dominion, rather than in self aggrandisement and holiday tripping. The genuine interest of this country and the nation will bo hotter served by "moderate and earefnlly-considerod' propositions and ■ suggestions of a full House, rather than ; handing over a full power to a single delegate who may, under the influence and impulse of tho moment, commit the country to a crushing financial burden. Eegardless of the choice of delegates, tho House should bo - m session during the period of the Naval Conference.—l am, cto,, - ~ „ n delegate. . May 29.