IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20482, 6 February 1930, Page 12

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

DOMINION REPRESENTATION. CURRENT RUMOURS DENIED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Current,rvmollis that ho had already booked his passage Home in anticipation of his departure for the Imperial Conference were denied-by the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, to-day in convention by telephone from Botorua. Tho Prime Minister added that nothing had yet been done regarding New Zealand's representation at the conference.

QUESTION FOR PARLIAMENT. EARLY SESSION SUGGESTED. Commenting on the announcement by the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. J. H. Eicullin, that ho will go to England in July or August to attend the Imperial Conference, tho Evening Post remarks that New Zealand representation at the conference has not been considered; but the time is fast approaching when -the issue and its effect on party politics must be faced. In ordinary circumstances there could be no question as to the Prime Minister's undertaking the mission, but it is impossible that Sir Joseph Ward should attend and imperil his health in a task which would tax his strength more than a session of the New Zealand Parliament.

The responsibility for seeing that New Zealand is worthily represented at a conference fraught with such significance lies upon the Reform Party equally with the Government. It demands that there should bo a truce to party strife and a united endeavour to meet a difficult situation. In order that the issue may be fully considered it is desirable that Parliament should bo summoned in good time. If members find it impossible to arrive at a decision, it may even bo necessary to appeal to tho country., If there is goodwill on both sides an early election can bo avoided, but in any circumstances New Zealand cannot afford to ho without representation at the conference or to entrust such representation to any man who does not possess the complete confidence of the country in Empire affairs.