IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11863, 29 May 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

THE PREMIER TO ATTEND. (Per Press Association.) ' WELLINGTUN,Jast night. The assurances; of support received by the Government ' from member bf both branches of the Legislature: are so satisfactory and definite as to im&ke it now quite certain, that Sir Joseph Ward will leave for the Imperial Conference with the . support of an overwhelming majority of the members of both Bouses. The suggestion that anyone else .than the Prime Minister should represent New Zealand is • 'not, .seriously. .entertained lit present by the Ministerial supporters. Sir Joseph Ward has -already said that the invitation has been adda-essed to' himself, .arid ; that it is both cordial in terms and urgent in character. The .conference hais been postponed in order that he may be present,, arid, as' he himself has put it, the application' takes such a shape as tp make its acceptance a dijty. In regard to tbe status of our representative at the conference, it is understood that the feeling of the Government is that the represenation in England, to i. be of any m e, must be through a man who, while. he cannot finally- commit the country, still will be able to commit the country in so faros to stake, not only his politicaV existence;, ; btn>- also the existence of hW.Goyemmejit. to. any pro-: pos'als of which he approves. It is. understood that one of the results of the conference >vill be that the Dreadnought offer will, with the approval of the Imperial Government,' be placed on a basis Satisfactory to Great ■ ; Britain j and which will be a businesslike one oh tho part of tho Dominion.