REPORTS OF CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14689, 25 May 1911, Page 5

REPORTS OF CONFERENCE.

EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS.

(Received May 24, 11.10 p.m.)

London, May 24.

Sir Joseph Ward, in moving the admission of representatives of the press, referred to the difficulty in obtaining information about the last Conference.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier said fftat at the last Conference the arrangements were satisfactory. The people of New Zealand had been as well informed of the proceedings as the people in London and Canada. If the press were admitted the deliberations would assume a different aspectthey would become a public discussion. It was necessary to preserve privacy, and to publish results, not differences of opinion. Mr. Fisher sympathised with the resolution, but said that if the press withdrew when a particular subject was discussed public attention would be markedly drawn to it. He suggested that the confidential subjects might be separated from the rest.

Mr. Botha opposed the motion,

Mr. Asquith suggested that Sir Joseph Ward should not press the motion. He appreciated the reason, but it must be remembered that the Conference could not partake of a public meeting. Its usefulness would be impaired if questions could not be discussed freely. The occasional exclusion of the press would excite curiosity, and pictures would be drawn of conflicts within the Conference.

Sir Joseph Ward said that, in view of the opinions expressed, •he saw no chance of carrying the motion, and therefore withdrew it.

An official summary .of the proceedings will be issued daily.