DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 101, 26 October 1904, Page 5

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE.

THE PREMIER'S RESOLUTION. MEMBERS STRONGLY OBJECT. In the House yesterday afternoon the Premier said he had received the following communication from tho Agent-Gen-eral :—"ln: — "In case newspapers take very alarmist tone in regard to Russian fleet firing upon English fishing boats, I consider it desirable to say that in my opinion the matter, though serious, is certain to be quietly settled." It would not, said the Premier, be out of place if tlje House were to pass a resolution, and he moved the following : "That this House expresses its deep sorrow at the sad occurrence by which British fishermen following their usual avocation lost their lives by being fired at by the Russian Bahic fleet, and tenders its heartfelt sympathy with the bereaved relatives and all concerned, and feels assured that none will regret the untoward event more than the Tsar of Russia and the Kussian nation; and that Mr. Speaker present this resolution to His Excellency the Governor with a respectful request that the same may be forwarded to the Secretary of State." Speaking to the motion, the Premier said it was only natural we should express sympathy with those who had lost their lives in this matter. (Hon. Members: "We are.") This was not a time to give way to excitement. Mr. T. Mackenzie : Await the course of events. > The Premier went on to say that when the news was received there was a feeling of indignation and resentment, but the resentment should not be against a nation which would probably feel as sorry as ourselves, but solely against those who were responsible for it. They must come to the conclusion that, owing to excitement, there must be a mistake ; a grievous mistake had occurred, and he thought we could feel for those who had suffered, and for all concerned. The Russian nation was greatly concerned, and he thought the course he had suggested would not hampej, but might make things more easy. We could depend on the Imperial Government, which had been faced with grave and neither the press nor the people should force upon them precipitate action. He felt satisfied that we should find that the action was the result of a mistake, deplorable though the mistake was. We did not know what the Baltic fleet might have had reason to fear, and he was satisfied that the honour of tne nation would be upheld by the Imperial Government. The course proposed would, he thought, tend to relieve the situation, and the incident would, he hoped, go to bring about the termination of a disastrous war. What, he asked, if it led to our gracious Sovereign acting as mediator between the two nations? The reading of the resolution by the Speaker was received with cries of dissent from both sides of the House. The Leader of the Opposition thought the words "and feels assured" should be repiacod by "earnestly hopes" — a suggestion which was received with favour by the House, and accepted by the Premier. He joined 'with the Premier, he said, in expressing sympathy with the relatives of the killed and wounded. He had confidence in the Imperial Government, and -the Imperial Parliament. He felt sure they would do their duty at this juncture, and that the nation would support them in that duty. Mr. Herries thought the House should merely express condolence with the relatives of the killed and injured, and express to the Imperial Government its readiness to stand by it whether in peace or war. (Hear, hiar.) Such a proposal would have met with hearty support from every member of the House. The Colonial Secretary (Sir J. G. Ward) did not think this was an occasion when, at a critical time in the history of the world, such a message as suggested oy Mr. Herries should be sent from this colony to the Old Country. If we did anything we should assist our kindred in trying to prevent a match being set to the fire, and an embroglio being brought about with other nations. It would be deplorable if any precipitate action on the part of our people at Home or abroad did anything to precipitate matters. ' Mr. Baume : Leave out all reference to the Tsar. The Colonial Secretary said the desire was to prevent all further trouble. Sir W. Russell said we had no right to suppose that the Tsar and the Russian people did anything but regret the atrocity committed by the Baltic fleet. It was an accident — (cries of Oh!") — and if wo thought war was coing to result we were wide of the mark. Was there any reason to suppose that tho Russians were devoid of humanity, or that they were fools in risking a battle with the strongest maritime nation in the world? He believed that in sending such a resolution as proposed, we were holding our flag far higher than by a more warlike message. Mr. M'Lachlan objected to the terms of the Premier's motion, and he suggested that the Baltic fleet might have had orders to do exactly wiiat they did. "Lot us send our fleet out and blow them out of the sea," he remarked, and he would be no party to voting for any mambypamby motion such as that proposed by the Premier. Mr. Buchanan thought it was premature to send any resolution Home. There was no necessity for such precipitate action. We should hold bur judgment in suspense, as the Imperial Government had had to do in regarcr to the reported actions of the Volunteer fleet. The latter part of the resolution was entirely out of place. Mr. R. M'Kenzie agreed that it would be premature to send Home the latter part ot the resolution. He was not going to express any sympathy with the Tsar of Russia till he knew more about it. Mr. Bollard was also opposed to the resolution as being premature. There was too much of this sort of thing, and he thought it was time the British nation asserted it-self in regard to the actions of Russia. There could be no harm in waiting for a day or two. He himself believed it was done on rjurpose. Mr. Major Vuggested that the House should amend the motion as follows : — "That this House desires to express its sympathy with the sufferers and relatives of those killed in the late unfortunate accident in the English Channel, and awaits with much anxiety further information regarding the unfortunate episode." Mr. J. Allen sympathised with the strong feeling evidenced throughout the nation, but the one strength of the British people consisted in its moderation — in its determination to do what was right as soon as it found what was the right thing to do. He thought that all of them could vote for the resolution as amended on the suggestion of the Loader of the Opposition, but the best thing to do would be to delete the latter part of the resolution. Mr. T. Mackenzie hoped that the illjudged remarks of Mr. M'Lachlan would be struck out of the records of tho House, but he went on to say that the British nation was displaying too much of a tendency to "turn the other cheek."

Russia had of late done things to British ships which should make us pause be- ■ fore we passed such a resolution. We ' should take up the position of a calm and dignified nation, waiting for events, and not be too hasty in hurling -defiance or expressing a hope that it was an accident. He moved to strike out the last passage of me resolution, as being too premature. Mr. Arnold seconded this amendment, thinking that it was the most reasonable courEe to take having regard to the lack of definite information on the subject. Mr. Willis strongly deprecated making any reference to the Russian nation until we knew what its intention had been. Mr. Bourne expressed the same opinion, as did Mr. W. Fraser, who said he would be prepared to express sympathy with the Tsar of Russia when he heard that the perpetrators of the outrage had been punished for then* crime. But Jie did nob believe that tihey ever would' be punished. Mr. BucHo regretted that there was almost a panic discussion going on in the Houee. He did not think that any fault could be found with the Premier's motion. There waa no hope of Russia getting into conflict with England. Mr. T. Mackenzie : She would have no hope if she did. Sir W. Steward thought the action of the' Government in bringing down the resolution was premature, and that they should have waited until they were seized of all the circumstances of the case. To affirm our hope that Russia regards this as a deplorable accidant when we are not sure of anything of the kind was altogether premature. What would be our position if we passed that resolution and then found that it was not an accident? Mr. Lang thought the Premier would agree to delete the latter part of the motion, and that the Premier would feol that he had been very injudicious in bringing down such a resolution at all. He thought it would be out of place for the Parliament to deal with a. matter which they knew little or nothing about. Mr. Ell thought the Premier's motion was'both humane and> wise. If we could do anything to avert war it was our undoubted duty to do it. , Mr. Barber agreed with the first part of the resolution, and hoped the Premier would accept the amendment so that there would be no necessity for a division. The list of Russian acts "of interference published in that night's Post was sufficient to show that it would be unwise to express an opinion such as they were asked to do by the Premier's resolution. Mr. Graham said the resolution was another example of the haste whilh. New Zealand exhibited in desiring to be the first to take part in any question involving a great crisis. He began to wonder whether the British Government had abrogated its functions and placed its mantle on tho Parliament and Ministry of New Zealand in grave Imperial crises. (HeaT, hear.) We should trust the Imperial Government to protect the interests of "Ehe Empire. If this had been an accident would not those who were responsible have proffered assistance as soon as they discovered their mistake? The Premier at this point said he proposed to amend his resolution by inserting after the reference to "sympathy for all concerned?' the words "and trusts that the unfortunate tragedy will be (proved to be the result of a great blunder." Mr. T. Mackenzie said if the Premier would stop at "blunder" he would withdraw his amendment. The Premier agreed to this course, and the resolution then read as follows: — "Thai* this House expresses its deep sorrow at the sad occurrence by • which British ' fishermen following their usual avocations have lost their lives by being fired on by the Russian Baltic fleet, and tenders its heartfelt sympathy with the bereaved relatives and to all concerned, and trusts that the unfortunate tragedy will be proved to have been the result of a great blunder." Mr. Lewis thought that even as it stood the moving of the resolution was a blunder. He could not understand the reason for this mad impetuosity to rush in and figure on a great occasion. That seemed to be the underlying motive of the whole proceeding — that the incident might be closed in about twenty-four hours and that unless we moved in the matter at once New Zealand would not appear in a great international event. Mr. Duthie said the position was very grave and delicate, and this was tho time to keep silent. Great Britain was quite capable of looking after its own affairs, and any such assumption of being able to manage the affairs of the nation would be looked upon as interference. The Premier, in replying, said he considered that on the occurrence of such a grave matter we were quite within our rights in passing such a resolution. It was done to let those at Home know that we took a lasting interest in their welfare, but he also believed that the Russian nation to-day felt deeply humiliated, and, he asked, why should we blame a nation that would be the last to countenance such an occurrence? After an hour and three-quarter's discussion the motion was carried on the voices.