“DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER.”

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6153, 10 August 1921, Page 2

“DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER.”

HON. A. M. MYERS MAKES A SUGGESTION.

REJOINDER BY SIR F. BELL

WELLINGTON. Aug. 9

Recently the Eon. Mr Myers; made a suggestion that, in, order to avoid interruption of the business of Parliament by the absence of the Prime Minister * attending the Imperial Conference, there should be appointed by constitutional procedure a ueputylPrime Minister after each general election, who would carry on all the functions of . office during the absence of the Premier in London.

Criticising this suggestion, Sir Francis Bell says that, after filling the office of acting-Prime Minister during Mr Massey’s absence, he is satisfied that the suggestion offers no solution of the problem. There can be only one Prime Minister. The true solution of the difficulty, he says. Is that when an Imperial Conference is held there should be an agreement between all parties that the business of the session of that year he confined to useful legislation. and that party politics should for the time being be •xjstponed. It should he a business session. By that means each Dominion could ensure that Parliament should continue part of the essential work m the absence of the Prime Minister. The Government could carry on the business of legislation without the Prime Minister, for the reason that the Prime Minister has n-vessariiy approved of the measures v.Hch the Government lias prepared for ihceonsideration of each session.—P.A.