THEN AND NOW.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 15003, 25 May 1909, Page 6

THEN AND NOW.

Although Sir Joseph Ward lias not yet made any definite announcement on tho subject, it scorns highly probable

from the telegram from our Wellington correspondent which wo publish this morning that Parliament will ho called together early next month for a session of four or five days, and that Sir Joseph will then go .Homo to represent the dominion at tho Imperial’Defence Conference. This is the course which was adopted, when Mr Seddon was summoned to attend Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 1897, and thcro appears to bo no sound reason why it should not bo followed now. Tho only serious objection to the suggestion that Parliament should bo adjourned after the short sitting till tho middle of September is coining from Mr Massey and a handful of his followers who aro urging that tho election of a now llouso of Representatives and tho “strengthening” of the Opposition make it highly desirable that Parliament should’ meet at tho usual timo and proceed with tho business of tho country in the ordinary way. But in 1897, when a new House had just been elected and when tho Opposition had been “ strengthened ” to a greater extent than it was last November, there was none more insistent than Mr Massey was that tho Primo Minister should go Homo to represent New Zealand at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. “I am glad,” ho said in supporting tho proposal in the House, “ to think that members aro practically unanimous on the most important point, that Mr Seddon should accept the invitation of the Secretary of State for tho Colonies, not because ho is Mr Soddon, but because bo is the Premier of tho colony. ... I am pleased to find that members on this side of the House are willing and prepared to sink tlieir political differences for tho timo being. They aro willing to resist temptation and avoid many opportunities which have boon afforded them to discuss the policy and the doings of the Government, and lam glad to think they are anxious to assist members of the Executive in enabling the colony to do its sharo and do its duty in connection with tho forthcoming celebrations. Every member of the House will agree that the occasion is one of tho deepest interest, not only to tho people of this colony but to. overy citizen of tho Empire. . . . The people of this colony are a loyal people. They aro anxious to do what is right in tho matter. They are anxious to show that Britain is a united Empire, and that this is a loyal and not unimportant colony.” Haring delivered himself of theso admirable sentiments, and of many more to the same effect, Mr Massey turned to tho objection, which was being urged, even then, that it would not be proper to adjourn Parliament till tho end of September. “ With regard to postponing tho ordinary business of tho session till September or October,” he said, “ I should like to say that, as far as the public of tho colony aro concerned, tlioy would not, I believe, care ono iota if, for the purpose of legislation, the House should not ho called together till tho October following, or tho October after that. Tho peoplo of tills colony havo had too much law-making—too much experimental legislation—and tlioy would lie ,glad to do without any more of either one or the other for a long time to come. I think if it wero possible. for us to arrango the finances of the colony, and to arrango for tho payment of interest on tho public debt, and if we. could restrain in some way the extravagant tendencies of tho Government, tho colony would ho much hotter off if Parliament wero not called together for the next throe years.” These quotations are from the report of Mr Massey’s very excellent speech appearing in “ Hansard.” It would bo interesting to learn why the leader of the Opposition is assuming such a different attitude now. Surely ho does not really believe that a conference between tho representatives of the Mother Country and of the colonics to deal with ono of tho greatest crises that have ever arisen in the history of the nation is of less consequence than a merely sentimental gathering to express the peop|e’s appreciation of the virtues of their Queen. That would bo absurd. But if Mr Massey wishes to escape the suspicion oT being actuated by purely personal motives of a. rather narrow character lie must explain to the public in what respect tho circumstances of to-day differ from those of twelve years ago. We do* not envy him tho task. - <