SESSION AND THE CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11872, 9 June 1909, Page 5

SESSION AND THE CONFERENCE.

.MKKTIXG OF J.KGISLATIVE t.OUX(. ! U.hnR.S.

KX DORSE DECLSIOX OF HOUSK

(From our Parliamentary. Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The action of the members of the House on Monday night m agreeing to ' (he importance of Sir Joseph SVaiu aclenling the invitation of the Imperial authorities to attend the Naval Con-' lorenco iv London; m July, ami, the advisability of i'arlialnent closing down until hirf return, was fully endorsed by the Legislative Council yesterday after- ' noon. Following the course adopted by the - House, Councillors gathered m their new chamber informally to consider the position, which was brieliy put before them by the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward. I Following something upon the lines 'of his pronouncement to the popular chamber, he thanked Councillors for joining together, and he was, he-said, assured- that m the country's interests they were Avilling to submit all local ''in-' terest**v m order- to do something to cement the link with the Old Country. As head of the Government ho appreciated how with little exception the question of pnrty had been sunk m their endeavor to assist the -Empire, of which they formed a part. Antecedent to the meeting of Parliament it was desired to obtain an expression of the opinion of tlie Legislature m an informal way of the proposal of the Government to be represented at the conference m London, the consequence of which it was impossible to forecast. The members being fully cognisant of the facts, it was unnecessary for him to' place on record the details he had supplied to tho Hpiise the previoris day, or to elaborate on its importance; and toa left it to them with the greatest tonfirienea to do their best for the good of tho country. (Applause.) The Prime Minister thereupon withdrew. The Hon. T. Kelly moved. "That this informal meeting of Councillors recognises the vital importance to, the Empire of the impending Naval Cahfer : . enoe, and considers it nessssary that New Zealand should' he represented at suc-h conference, and m view of tho important part' taken m naval defence ftueli representation should be by the Minister. for Defence, the Prime Minister. Farther, this beinyj the first meeting of a new Parliament, it is expedient the Prinij? ; Minister should be m his position ..in., the House, and that after making the necessary financial arrange^ ijienta to carry on Parliament shouhl prorogue till . September 30. It was a singular .thing, remarked the hon, genV .tlemnn>'that m these days of ciyiltsa- ; tioji the country should be -terrorised [by war. The only. safety for the F.m- --| pire an<l her dependencies was to .bis prepared for 'war. Biiglaml's supreniaey must be Nnia intained, and we. sheltered by ito nafy,', should assist. If war were let loose and a ;h'avy' came into these seas, destitution -would prevail and financial ruin result; We should, be prepared to 'prevent that calamity.' The Prime Minister should go (Home, and attend the conference, ami Parliament should prorogue until September* 30. It s was absolutely necessary. (Hefcr, hear.) . ■ ' , ''? . Tho Hon. G. H. Jones: I second tlie resolution. / The Attornev-fieneral, m compliance with a. general request, Avas about- to put-'th-e mojtion, when Hon. J. T. Paul requested that it should, be put m two parts. ■ ' i. The mover and ojther Councillors disapproved of this course. The Hon, J. T. Paul said he desired to explain that whilst he was. fully impressed with tin- importance of the i*onference, at, the, same time he' differed with, those who said the session, should He knew th?rc wars great conflict <|ri the point, but he considered it wo\dd cause a great deal of inconvenience' to close 'down Parliament for three months. He had preat faith m the Ministry that they could oarrv on the Government, and he believed that when Sir Joseph Word did go Homo, and when the unemployed question reached .that acute- -slage . thu^-it might,, ljut lie hoped it woidd not, -ths Government would do itsf best «i>der the circumstances. Last yeai* we were receiving men from the Old; Country. Now they Jwijifi going away m dozens! '•(-.Vjtt.jv thing should be done to stop this rio.tional "wafit?. Another matter he emphasised was that the snerifk^ of : each unit of the Empire should be •equal. He did not a/jree with those who said they had nothing to io.°je by being under $\ foreign flag. \ (Ilenr* " hear.) TheSe who sand this should be 'taught .the A. B.C. of progress, or hz placed m an tioyl'.irni; With the Dreadnought, offer he did not jigree under the oircuin stances. He \<ould» give ton . Dread - noughts if their .country w-rre at staVe, but he ,did not bejieve m their taking^ the paT*t that shoul d be "born c by ihe riclv raen n( the Empire . The Hon. Wi Fere disagreed with the Hon. Mr Paul, Cfeiinjiny had built men-of-war, and fortified on rea andlancl. New Zealand had been distinguished m a call from the King, which he it»t;-er-preted to nieop. that 'she desired New Zealand's ( aid and help.; ' When the Maoris of tlie ofcter days heard of an approaching attack fyomim enemy they $et about to build, to fortify. If he, hid an. idea, that England was* to blayr? he would say no; Qerriiany. was trying 1 to spring a surprise on England.^ Wha,t would become of them if England were beaten. The Hon. Mr Paul would not like to say, "Save th? others, but talie my head." (Lauphter.) But m cutting ihis head off it did not say the heads of all the others would be saved. The Hon. Mr Paul was only a youth. Had he been older and able tobonfit of be-} ing a New Zealander he would have spoken m a different way. If sucJi words had fallen from older men like the Hans. Ormond or Tucker, he would consider, .'is there.* anything m them?" He would like to see the Hon. Mf Paul stop 'talking like that. (Laughter.) He should imagine what would happen if England were defeated. Where, would the Hon. ; Mr Paul be? Hfr would have no R,eat. (Renewed laitghter.) How would his feet be able to carry him along 'in a. proper aylirse if his head were severed from his body. (Roars of laughter.)..- ". . =-. / The Hon. Dr. Pirilay intei-posed to ha^e the ni(otion put. ■ '' • ' ' ■■ . The Hon. .Mr Wi P*re a p\eadcd" for "J'only one word more." Tlie, Hon. Paul's objection to Parlinment adjr)yurning when the Premier snid he wotdd riot gb unless ihey closecldowti ■wn-a tantamount to, .objecting to Prime Minister's gcJin,?! to England. (Hiear, hM?.) < ' ' r : The Hon. J. S. Sinclait considered that if would be one of\tlie mo?t impprtant> if not the jAo.it important, con ferehce ever held for many ypars, and New Zealnnd was privileged to lie reprosentedby the Premier, whose duty it was to. go. * (A.pplanse.) Tt wn.j he wJir» more than any other should, be charged with the carrying out of the ' policy, that would be decided m the . Hpm^laivl, far too much .had; been said •' of the inconvenience of cutting off Parliament, but' its inconvenience could not outweigh tlie advantage that would bo derived from the Premier representing New Zealand at the conference. " . . . The motion w<ir then put and carried unanimously. THE FORMAT/ OPENING OF I ; PABLJAMKNT. Although tho Prim-?i Minister has, throujih rth« Tecent informtd conference or both- branches of tho Legislature, at-" tamed' \vn object m an indication of the opinioi\of leQrislnrtorH.Tesp'.'ct■.injf the! acceptance of the invitation of the Imnferial a\ithoriti<?s to attend the 1 Naval Conference, and the consequ-ont advisnbilitv of closing down/. PnTliainent 1 until his return to the Dominion at the end of September, ntil.l the position is one m whjch developments will be Avatched W+li ; interest J" Opposition"iiits flearly iiidic'nted that they would not be bound by the decision of the informal gathering, and consequently wij^h Parliament forniallv meets, they will take full advantage of j the occasion. A it is pointed out. may be adopted to the discomfiture of the Qovornment, but thei'e is nothing at pinv•sent seriously anticit>at?d to affect the intentions of the Ministry. Parliament will assemble by commission to-morrow, as m tho caae after a general election,

and tho formal swearing-in ceremony will be performed, whilst the Speaktrshij), as previously forecasted, will be decided. Friday nfternoon Avill see jirDrtcntatioli of tlu^ (Jou'inor's Kpeoeh, lh», featuro of whicli of course will be the importance of the pending Naval Conference and the Dominion's magnificent offer m the cause of the Empire's defence. The Address-hvrcpty debate, the passage of the usual Im-pr-ast Supply Bill, and the extension of ; last year's appropriations to October 31, will all afford the members of -the 'Opposition thi> opportunity to lodge the protest voiced by their leader, against the shutting of the doors of Parlia- ■ nient, together with the customary ef- , fusions upon finance and native land, timber, and other more or loss stock lines m the political book shelf, and • m wliich the labor will debate i upon the unemployed question. '<