EMPIRE MEETINGS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 33, 8 August 1921, Page 8

EMPIRE MEETINGS

'SHOULD THERE BE A DEPUTY-PREMIER?

| SIR FRANCIS BELL'S VIEW; ,

In a recent interview,' the Hon. Arifcr M. Myers suggested the appointment of a Deputy-Prime Minister as a method'of facilitating the representation ofthe Dominion at Imperial Conferences. "■ln view of the larger participation now being taken in general foreign policy by tlie Dominions (said Mr. Myers), and as \continuous representation at the heart of Empire, as well as periodic representation upon other; Imperial and international bodies, is now a, sine qua non of frill nationhood within the Empire; and a?, also-j Prime Ministers —probably rightly—do not desire to relinquish the ■prerogative and privilege which appeartains to their- personally representing their several countries at Home and ■ abroad; I would suggest that an assistant or Deputy-Prime Minister be appointed, after each election, and by constitutional procedure, for the purpop of undertaking duties similar to those now being discharged by the Hpn. Sin>:Francis Bell in thi3 country. Siich Deputy-Prime Minister would be 'thie recognised; leader of Parliament' at \ajjy time during the absence of the 'Prime Minister, and, in addition, would Telieve the head ,bf< the Government from responsibility in connection with administrative departments which at present take-up so much time of the leading statesmen of each country # within the Empire. Prime Ministers, in,.general wttuld thus be able to devote adequate time and (attention, to questions of defence, finance, and, ; general 'policy, both in':Tegard to Imperial and home affairs." •'<'■' Such a course as iisuggest would ob viate undue prorogation of the various Parliaments of, Empire, by providing a constitutional-head of the Government always resident in the country,;no matter .Svljiat urgent i ■ Imperial >or international affair mißh,t -liaye^call.ed..the.,Prime. Minij^ei away^jm r the ,;midst ■of .important Parliamentary work'in his own country. Tl!fe Deputy-Prime .Minister, would, if ne-, ceasary, act,as.alternate, with the chief Prime Minister,- 'as■■< representative upon conferences abroad."-,. ( . .. ... . .■.,;■ Sir Francis Bell was asked by a Post reporter to-day for an expression of opinion upon.this suggestion; "Having heTd the.position of: deputy-Prime'Min-ister for.'more-than: four months," said Sir' Francis, ■ "I, anr- able. to express an opinion lon >tha ( subject,L and my view is thit Mr-'Myers'.' suggestion- offers no yvity of escape "from the difficulty; There cap be only one.Prime,Minister, and his deputy .can; never have the authority or influence which-the. Prime.Minister properly exercises. > /.It,will always be found esientia\, .that,, the.,Jmperial; Conferences shall consist, of,,the Prime Ministers iof th* sclf-governing-t Dominions and Colonies, presided over, by, the Prime Minister of; .England. yNopther "meeting of statesmen;,* <however^great i the 1; individual, ability of the members, /can debate questions of Imperial importance and prictically decide them. Practical decision results from the fact that each Prime Minister, on his [ return, to his own' Dominion, has the sole power of initiation.- in, the Parliament, of i jn^asure'y.to^gi^ effect Js> thetpecisjpns olsJthe Conference.?- Mr:' Myers appears to'--r me^»itoK) recognise '--that ,' essential. condition, but he desires that the s'eyeral Parliaments;of the Empire should!, continue in session^; notwithstanding the absence in Londoa^of tthe head of each G^v«mnient.. .That, in,my, opinion,.will never be •possible :iii> practice.' vA deputy: c&iL,;»e.vei,hold.the^position of, th«, Prime Minister, cither as leader of the party in power, or as leader of the House of Kopresertatives.....'Legislation is not. the only business of Parliament. If it were, .possibly My. "Myerses- suggestion might be effective. .^-Parliament has the right and the duty tqiCpntrol the Government of the country, and to determine an infinite variety, of, questions' on all kinds of subjects upon any one ot which important issues of policy-may suddenly' arise upon which a definite, expression of the; opinion and intention.of Jthe Government of the day .is (required,; 1 and such, questions cannot be adequately dealt' with in the absence of the Prime Minister. The true solution of the difficulty, in my opinion, isthat when the Imperial Conference'; is 'held, there should be an agreement between all parties that vthe busifiessi of -the • session of that year j should be-confined to useful legislation, , and -that party polities', and other questions of the nature I have referred to, shoald he, for the time being postponed. It should a-'husifteiss" session.. .By that; means each- Dominion could ensure that. Parliament should continue part of its essential work in the absence of tho Prime Minister. v _ The f Gbvernment could carry bri the business of legislation without the Prime Minister, for th© reason that the Prime. Minister has necessarily approved of the measures which the Go-, vettunent has prepared for the wnsideration of each;.session.",. ;