The Daily Telegraph WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WAIHI MINER SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1909 MEETING OF PARLIAMENT

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IX, Issue 2570, 5 June 1909, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WAIHI MINER

SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1909 MEETING OF PARLIAMENT

Here ehall tbe I'rcw (lie I'etiple'n Itighl maintain Umiwed by iultuenco and unbrihed bj gain, Here Patriot Truth her glorious precept! ilniw. Pledged to lleligion, Liberty mill law.

Tho informal meeting of Parlia to be held on Monday will probably constitute a record in tin Dominion for shortness: Theonlj matter of importance for discus sion is tho invitation to the Prom ier to attond the Naval Conl'cronci to be hold in London in July, ant as the Promicr has colsullm tho members on the subjec by wire the discussion should bi ! a brief one, with a resolution authorising his attendance at tin Conference. The replies to tin tolograui showed that the mem bers by a largo majority favourei acceptance of 'the invitation, bit a resolution passed by the mem bers is more in form in the impor taut circumstancos, as well as t highor credential than the individ ual ; replies to the telegram. 1 has beon suggested that M i Massoy, leader of the Opposition should go with the Premier, ai a proof that there is no division o; opinion in New Zealand on tin quostion of ompire defence, ant the suggestion will doubtless be considered on non-party lines The necessity for some organised , ■systom ef defouce throughout the Empire is admitted'on all sides, and the only way by which organisation can bo brought about is by a scheme under which the

motherland and colonies will lie able to work in concert, At the present time every part of the empire has its own idea of what should be done to enable it to become offootivc in time of stress. This is a wrong and dangerous policy, and some clear understanding,'by .vhicli ovory British country will know clearly its responsibilities, and what to do and liow to do it, is an urgent need, and one (hat llio conference will endeavour to arrive at, .So far it has not been disclosed whether tho invitation is to the I'remier alone or whether it is general enough to include Mr Massey or some other representative, This will be a matter for the members to consider, but the position as it stands is similar to tho ono in 181)7. when Mr Seddon was summoned to the Jut h i 1 o e celebrations. A new House, as now, had just been elected, and there was none more insistent than Mr Massoy was that the Premier should go Home to represent Wow Zealand, " J am glad," he said in supporting the proposal in the llouso, " to think that members are practically unanimous on tho most important point, that Mr Seddon should accept tho invitation of the secretary of state for tho Colonies, not because ho is Mr Seddon, but because he is the Premier of the colony. ... 1 am pleased to liiidfhat members on this side of the House are willing and prepared to sink their political differences for the time being. . , , With regard to postponing the ordinary business | of tb.fi'session till September or October, I should like to say that, as far as tho public of the colony are concerned, thoy would not, J believe, en re one iola if for the purpose of legislation, the Iloihp should not be called together till the October following, or the October after that, the people of this: colony have had to much law-! making —too much experimental j logifijution -and they would bo, glad to do iwtboul any more of either one or the oMitr for a lung

time to come. I think if it were' possible for us to arrange the finances of the colony, and to ' arrange for the payment of inter-! | est on the public debt, and if wo | | could restrain in some way the ; extravagant' tendencies of the Ooyornmont, tho colony would le ; much bolter off if Parliamont wero \ not called together for the next' 'three years." VVc trust that a similar view will bo taken by' Mr. 1 Massey on this occasion, which is lof greater importance In New Zealand than the Jubilee function