DEFENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13916, 29 May 1909, Page 6

DEFENCE.

A PREMIER'S PROPOSAL. Press Assoeiation-By Telegraph-Copyright Received 0.00 p.m.. May 28th. OTTAWA.. May 28. Sir James Whitney, Promior of Ontario, speaking at Morrisburg, said it would l)f bettor if the Canadian Gn-vorniiK.-nt cabled to England that they wore proparod to recommend an appropriation for the price of one or two Dreadnoughts. Canada would bo proud of the day to stand beside her brethren of the Antipodes in the groat Imperial procession-

THE JULY CONFERENCE. iSLH JOSEPH WARD TO GO. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 28. The assurances of support received by the Government from members of both brandies of the Legislature are so satisfactory and definite as to mako_ it now quite certain that Sir Joseph Ward will leave for the Imperial Conference with the support of an overwhelming majority of .members of both Houses. The suggestion that anyone else than the Prime Minister should represent New Zealand is not seriously entertained at present by Ministerial supporters. Sir Joseph Ward has already said that the invitation has been addressed to himself, and that it is both cordial in terms and urgent in character. The Conference has been postponed in order that he may be present, and as he himself had put it, the application: takes such a shape as to make its acceptance a duty. In regard to the status of New Zealand's representative at the Conference, it is understood that the feeling of the Government is that representation in England to be of any use must be through a man who. while he cannot finally commit th" country.'still will be abl? lo commit the country so far as to stake not only his political existence, but also the existence of his Government to any proposals of which he approves. Tt is'understood that one of the results of the Conference will be that the Dreadnought offer will, with ••ho :m>proval of the Imperial Government:, be nlacod on a basis satisfactory to Great Britain, and which will be a businessline one on the part of the Dominion,.