THE MEETING OF MEMBERS

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXV, Issue 4355, 9 June 1909, Page 2

THE MEETING OF MEMBERS

SIR JOSEPH GOES HOME,

PARLIAMENT ADJOURNED TILL oOtii SEPTEMBER.

The informal meeting of Mem

bers of Parliament, to consider the representation of the Government at the Imperial. Naval Conference, and whether Parliament should adjourn to enable the Premier to attend, was opened at 3 o’clock on Monday. Every seat in the House and galleries was occupied by members of both Houses. The Prime Minister stated that he would not ask for the appointment of a chairman, but would himself preside. Sir Joseph Ward explained that he had called members together in thf only way possible under the circumstances. Members of the Upper House had been invited to be present, not to take part in the general discussion, but to hear what had i to be said and then consider the matter separately. Until a decision was arrived at as to the adjournment of the session it was impossible to inform the British Government whether the Dominion would be represented. He i was glad to see Mr Massey present as he was always desirious of [ recognising the position of the Leader of the Opposition. I Realising that he could only act with the general co-operation of Members he felt that it was better that he should come before them and make a general state ment and be guided by the general sense of the members assembled. He explained that if the representation of New Zealand was to be by the Prime Minister and Parliament was to adjourn, the necessary steps would be taken to get an extension of supplies and the Speech from the Throne would be a short one. If the House decided that the Government would not be represented then his Excellency would .have to be advised differently. If the invitation was refused the Government would lay itself open to a charge of indifference. The conference was an epoch making one. Sir Joseph said the time had arrived for Parliament to say whether it would uphold the offer of a Dreadnought (or two if necessary) to the British Government, or he would ask Parliament to say “ aye ” or “ nay,” also to say whether the Dominion should be represented at the conference. He intimated that a despatch which was expected had not reached his Excellency, as apparently the Home Government was awaiting the result of this conference. The Prime Minister then read the voluminous correspondence which had passed respecting the Dreadnought offer and the various despatches, between the British and New Zealand Governments (the substance of all of which has already been published). He estimated that the necessary loan could be raised at 3 per cent., which with one per cent, sinking fund, would amount to £BO,OOO a year, a not to heavy insurance on our commerce. Cabinet had entirely concurred in the whole proposal, and his Excellency was asked to submit it to the British Government. A despatch had also been received in which the New Zealand Government was

asked to be represented at the Imperial Conference to be held in July, and a farther one expressing the hope that Sir Joseph Ward, as Minister of Defence, would see his way to be present. Continuing, the Premier said the Government could not agree to the suggestion that someone, not a Minister of the Crown, should represent the Dominion 'at such an important conference which the Secretary of State had intimated had among other things to consider the offer of a Dreadnought, or two, from New Zealand. The Horae Government desired representatives of the oversea Dominions to be present, and the responsibility was upon Parliament to say whether and by whom New Zealand should be represented. The conference was of an unprecedented character, and the Ministry was unanimously of the opinion that at such an important gathering the head of the Government ought to represent the Dominion.—(Applause). He referred to what he described as an indecent suggestioa that he had sent a telegram to editors of the press, and had not seen fit to send a similar telegram to the members. At the time that the offer was

. made the Government knew somei thing which had not then been made public, and which they then thought justified them in making > the offer that was now being discussed throughout the country. 1 The action of the Government had been confirmed and applauded as being in the best interests of the Empire. Sir Joseph quoted from a speech delivered by Lord Charles Beresford, in which he stated—“lf the country knew, the true position there would be a panic.” The Premier maintained that it was not a fair proposition to ask the House to go on rn Parliament without its leader, especially with the new members and new Ministers. He did not believe that Mr HallJones, if asked, would accept the position as representative at the Conference unless he were Premier, with authority to act, as the Con-! ference was a private one. If members agreed to his going to the Conference and the House ad- ! journing, he proposed to ask the House to resume on the 30th | September. , Mr Massey asked for a specific' resolution. I

Sir Joseph said all the business could be gut through well in time. ' He had asked Mr T. Y. Duncan to move a resolution. Mr Duncan moved to the effect that the Premier should represent the Government at the Conference,

and that Parliament should adjourn until September 30th. At the evening sitting, the Premier called upon Mr Massey to speak to the motion. Mr Massey said he did not intend to speak at great length, but would make his points clearer than the Premier had done. He had no objection to the proceedings being reported in Hansard, but objected to this meeting being treated as part of Parliament. What was being done now was in no way binding upon Members of Parliament. All knew the important events which had taken place in Britain recently, and all knew that it would necessitate an important change in the defence policy of the colonies, but there was not need • for heroics and theatrical display. He would like to know what was the defence policy of the Dominion. No country in the British Dominions had spent so much on defence to so little effect. It was an important question to be considered by Parliament how the defences of the Dominion should be put in proper condition. All were agreed that New Zealand should be properly represented at the Defence Conference. (Opposition hear—hear). It appeared that the Premier had made up his mind to go Home. Well, let him go. There was no analogy between the positions of 1897 and the present one. In 1897

it was a unique occasion,—the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen. When the Premier went Home to the previous Defence Conference he left a substitute to carry on the business of the country. The Premier now said no one but himself could represent the Dominion. What a compliment to his colleagues ! (Opposition laughter).

The fact was he did not wish the business to go on in his absence,

because he could not trust his own

party. Mr Massey observed that no man was indispensable and if the Premier, Massey and others

were out of Parliament the busi-

ness of the country would still go on. It was the duty of the Premier

to have consulted the Leader of

the Opposition, who represented nearly equal to half the inhabitants, if he did not want the cry of party raised, but he did not adopt that course. He pointed out the financial position of the

country and the necessity of providing for public works and other matters without delay. This was one of the most important sessions in the history of the country and ought to be proceeded with. The Premier should go to the conference, but it was not to be held that every time a conference was held in London Parliament was to be postponed. He hoped before the Premier went he would give the country an indication as to the lines of action he intended to take up at the conference. After having assisted the Empire we should look to our own defence, and he advocated a proper subsidy to the Imperial Navy as a better method of assistance than a gift of Dreadnoughts. He hoped the motion would be • divided into two parts to allow the meeting to decide whether the Premier should go Horae, and if so, whether Parliament should be adjourned. Sir Joseph Ward consented to

1 divide the motion, and the first portion, authorising the Premier to attend the conference, was agreed to. The second part, that Parlia--1 ment, after making the necessary financial arrangements to enable the business of the country to proceed, was put, and Mr James i Allen moved an amendment to the - effect that it was essential that the business of the session should proceed without interruption. The reason for the conference was the action of Canada in deciding to undertake her own defence. He strongly opposed the i motion for prorogation of Parliament. Had the Premier really looked upon the matter from a non-party point of view, he would have trusted his party and Parliament to carry on the work during his absence. The action of the Premier in refusing to go unless Parliament adjourned was an attempt to coerce members.. Sir Joseph Ward said that Mr Allen should have given notice of his amendment. He denied that personal equation had entered his mind in connection with the conference. He denied that there were several thousand unemployed, The Government had decided tb acquire land in both Islands with the view of assisting i civil servants retired under retrenchment. After a number of members had spoken, Sir Joseph Ward read the motion and put it. The motion was received ' with about equal : cries of “ Yes ” and “ No.” j A division was taken, which i resulted :-Ayes 43, Noes 30. [ The motion was declared carried. Following is the division list: Ayes, 45. Arnold, Baurne, Brown, Buddo, Buxton, Carroll, Clark, Colvin, Craigie, Davy, Dillon, T. Y. Duncan, Ell, Field, Forbes, Fowlds. Graham, Greenslade, Guinness, Hall, Hanan, Hogan, Hogg, Jennings, Laurenson, La wry, Macdonald, R. McKenzie, T. McKenzie, Millar, Ngata, Parata, Poland, Poole, Reid, Ross, Russell, Seddon Sidey, Stallworthy, E. H. Taylor! Dr Buck, J. C. Thomson, Ward' Wilford.

Noes 30.—J. Allen, Anderson, Bollard, Buchanan, Buick, Dive. J. Duncan, Fisher, Fraser, Guthrie' Hardy, Herdman, Herries, Hine, Lang, Luke, McLaren, Malcolm! Mander, Massey, Newman, Nosworthy, Okey, Pearce, Phillips, Khodos Scott, Taylor, Thomson Witty, Wright. -

legislative COUNCIL.

ENDORSE THE RESOLUTION,

Wellington, Tune 8. The Prime Minister met mem-»

bersofthe Legislative Council in the Council Chamber at 3 o’clock to-day to bring before them informally the question of representation by the Government at the Imperial Conference. Sir Joseph thanked the hon. members for their courtesy in attending, and pointed out that it would be advantageous to have the goodwill of the Upper House gs well as the Lower House in representing the Dominion. They were aware of circumstances which had necessitated the informal meeting of members of Parliament so he would not trouble hon. members to recapitulate them. The Premier then retired.

The Hon. T. Kelly, in a very brief speech, urged the necessity of the Premier going to the conference, and also of prorogation meanwhile. He then moved a resolution identical with the one passed by members of the Lower House early this morning. The Hon. ,T. Paul, while agreeing in the necessity of the Premier attending the conference, thought the position of affairs of the Dominion demanded the business being proceeded with. He briefly alluded to the unemployment question and hoped the Government would do something in the matter. On the question of defence there should bean equitable distribution of the burden. Giving Dreadnoughts did not appeal to him, as it was relieving the rich of their rightful burden. The Hon. J. R. Sinclair said the conference was one of the most important ever held in the EmpireIt would mainly be a secret one, and it was essential that the Prime Minister should be present. Far too much had been made of the adjournment. It was absurd to say'that there could be any loss by adjourning until October. But if there was a certain loss he would still say the Prime Minister should go Home to represent the Dominion at this great conference. The motion was then carried without dissent.