The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1909. SIR J. G. WARD'S DILEMMA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13914, 27 May 1909, Page 4

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1909. SIR J. G. WARD'S DILEMMA.

: Judging from some remarks made by Mr Massey to an Auckland interviewer, jtlie Leader of tlie Opposition will maka ■tho proposed informal gathering of t Members of Parliament an occasion ; for testing the strength of parties in itlie House of Representatives. In liia ! statement circulated 011 Tuesday, Sir. i Joseph ard plainly intimated that v fiio thought he ought to attend tho l lmperial Conference on Defence, and 1 quite positively said that he would not •do so unless the session of Parliament is postponed until his return. Ho

•'could not entertain" any proposal that Parliament should proceed with the work of its first session in his absence. Mr 3V{assey " spoke of the importance of the 'session, mentioned several subjects which demand attention, and then said: "The Opposition members are not inclined to be unreasonable, but our first duty is to thf> country, and I consider the position, generally too serious to bo trifled with, and for tho reasons I have mentioned whatever arrangements may be made for- representing New Zealand at ,the Imperial Conference, I think that Sir Joseph "Ward's proper place is in Parliament until the session closes, and until this public business of the teonntry has been properly considered." In tho interview as we have it there is, however, nothing to indicate that Mr, Massey had heard of Sir Joseph Ward's idea that the session should l)e postponed, and if it occurred, to him he did not offer any opinion about it. He doubtless spoke on Sir Joseph "Ward's circular to the Members, and this, we understand, did not contain the final paragraph of tho statement supplied to- the Press, in which Sir Joseph so emphatically declared that he would not go to London unless the session was put off. Mr Massey is a reasonable man. He recognises the duty of the Premier being in his place when Parliament is sitting, and if the session eau be put off lie will not raise any unreasonable ohjec* tions to the Premier's proposals.