THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1897.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10365, 13 February 1897, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1897.

There is, it would appear, some doubt as to whether the invitation given by Mr. Chamberlain to the Premiers of these colonies to be present at the fetes and ceremonials which are to take place in June next, when Her Majesty completes the sixtieth year of her reign, will be accepted as unanimously as is desirable. Sir G. Turner, the Premier of Victoria, has been urged by his colleagues to go, and is still considering the subject, Mr. Reid, the Premier of New South Wales, litis made what appears to be it definite statement that it is impossible for him to accept Mr. Chamberlain's invitation, as the approaching session of Parliament and the Federation Convention will absorb all his time. Mr. Seddou has not yet said what he means to do, and possibly he may not be able to come to a determination without further consultation in New Zealand, His personal inclinations, we have no doubt, would lead him to accept the invitation, but he is in somewhat the same position as Mr. Reid, in regard to the value of his time. The Premiers of South Australia, of Western Australia, and of Queensland, will accept the invitation.

For several reasons it is to be regretted that the Premier of New South Wales cannot attend. That is the mother colony of the group, and was in existence a generation before the others were created. To some extent it has all along pursued a somewhat different career, and latterly it has -become avowedly and entirely a free-trade colony, adopting the policy of the mother-country as distinguished from the confused Protectionism of Victoria and the other colonies. Mr. Reid is also entitled on personal grounds to take a High position amongst colonial statesmen, and that lie should be absent from such a gathering in England is much to be regretted. We are quite sure that his declining has been made in no spirit of mere {factiousness, but that he honestly thinks that the colony would lose more by his going to London at the present time than any gain that could accrue by his presence at the ceremonials. It is a matter for Mr. Reid, his colleagues, and the Parliament of New South Wales to settle. It must not be forgotten that the absence of a Premier for even the brief time now requisite for a visit to England is a serious matter for any country conducted by Parliamentary Government. The Premier is the Cabinet, and all the other members hold office by his will. Parliament can make no movement except through the Premier, and the absence of the leader means that Parliament cannot sit. In our case, as in that of New South Wales, the circumstances are difficult to dealt with. In New Zealand a new Parliament lias been elected, and till the members meet it is impossible to say definitely how parties will stand. For the Premier to go to England next June, it would be necessary to have an early session for the voting of supplies, and then the House would meet again in August or September for the ordinary business of the session. Some of the members of the Government party, we understand,. are exceedingly disinclined to have two sessions, and it may have been the' knowledge of some such feeling that is preventing an intimation of what course the Government mean to .pursue. - On such a subject it would; lie.;well' tjiat there should be something like a general consent, because two sessions would mean a considerable extra ; cost to the colony, and considerable inconvenience in regard to the business - of ? the country. This we believe the country is willing to consent

t-Qi S.fld if the Premier does not accept the invitation it will not be because of any popular or party opposition. There is another question which has not been discussed at all in this colony, and that is, how a general representation of the colony is to be made. It is impossible, we presume, for the Premier to be represented •by deputy. The invitation is given to the Premiers personally, and not to such person as the colony may choose to send. Besides, it is quite likely that the Secretary for State for the colonies may desire to take counsel with the Premiers on the many important questions which have lately emerged affecting the relations between the Colonies and the Mother Country, There is the question of British trade, for instance, 011 which Mr. Chamberlain has addressed an elaborate series of queries to the colonies, but on which probably a conference, and a free interchange of thought, would be of greater .service than anything else. There is also the subject of defence, at present in a transition state, and respecting which misunderstandings are very likely to arise. These are the principal reasons indeed why it is to be regretted that there should not be a full muster of the Premiers in London.