A CALL TO MR MASSEY

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14586, 8 February 1921, Page 4

A CALL TO MR MASSEY

There can he no doubt that the call which has come from Mr Lloyd George to Mr Massey, as Premier of New Zealand, to attend the Conference of Premiers of [lie Empire to he held in London in June next, is an imperative one and musl be accepted!by him. This Conference is not an Imperial Conference such as lias been held in past years, but a calling together of tin.' Premiers of the self-trovernintr Dominions and Colonies to discuss with the Premier of the Motherland matters of the greatest import to the Empire; and the Prime Minister must attend or the Dominion be without representation. There can be no delegation of the office as might be. the case at an Imperial Conference. Mr Massey is, we know, burdened with office and harassed with troubles in various directions, but these facts must nol be allowed to stand in the way. Parliament will mee l oi- March JO, and there can he little lU.ubt that he will receive a mandate therefrom to proceed to London. The times are all awry, bill the importance of the pending Conference is such thai everything must sh. iside to allow of the Prime Minister ; ' ing part in the inner Council of the Kmpire. Many subjects of peculiar interest to New Zealand will be discussed, including Imperial defence, problems of the Pacific., Empire settlement and others iVising from lhi> aftermath of the fire it War. This is a time when private an I political differences must be, set aside and all must he for the State. We I.row that before the latest cull, much a, Mr Massey knew that he should he present, lie felt tie could best serve the Dominionjiy staying here, bill local considerations must give way to Imperial interests. The part which Mr Massey played in the Peace Negotiate ns have brought him Into prominence as one of the Empire's leading men, and his absence from the .lime conference would be regarded as little short of a calamity. The choice of an actingPremier has apparently been considered, and the Attorney-General, Hon Sir Francis 11. D. Bell, Is likely to fill th.i position for which he is undoubtedly eminently fitted.