The Waikato Times. With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1921. OUR REPRESENTATIVE

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14775, 14 October 1921, Page 4

The Waikato Times. With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1921. OUR REPRESENTATIVE

The country will be interested to learn that Sir John Salmond has been appointed to represent New Zealand at the conference which is about to be held in Washington. We have urged on many occasions that it is impossible for the Prime Minister to conduct all the local affairs of the country and at the same time to act as our Ambassador or Plenipotentiary abroad. Now that a beginning has been made we trust that the precedent will be followed on the next occasion. The House received the intimation of the appointment with considerable questioning, and one member expressed the opinion that the appointment was not a compliment to Parliament. It may be admitted at once that it was not a compliment, but there is something of greater importance than passing compliments involved in the business, and we are glad that this has been recognised by the Government. The question was not discussed, because the forms of the House require unanimous agreement if a debate is to lake place without notice, and a Labour member actuated by the absurd dispute between Liberals and Labour as to which is the official Opposion objected to Mr Wilford speaking, and he had therefore to confine himself to a question. He asked whether the Conference was to consider the possibility of formulating a policy of disarmament, and whether Now Zealand’s representative would be part of the Empire delegation- On the first question Mr Massey, in a guarded manner, showed (hat he was sceptical. We have commented before upon this attitude to the question, and certainly wish that Mr Massey, who is optimistic on most matters, could include the possibility of peace amongst the things to be hoped for. On the question of appointing a representative who is not in the Cabinet the Prime Minister explain - ed that there is a busy session before the House, and that Sir Francis Bell, who would have filled the position admirably, could not be spared. They might have gone further, and asked who could be suggested I hat would be recognised as competent to fill the, position. Politics have got info an unfortunate, rut. The Government, have undertaken a, variety of matters previously left to local bodies or private

enterprise. Legislation has been introduced which empowers them to interfere with contracts, regulate prices, fix the rate of interest, and interfere in most men’s business. Such a state of things is only rendered endurable by leaving to some Minister the power of waiving or varying the conditions which have been laid down, or by ob'taining from him permission to do something which was formerly done without permission. All this involves constant negotiation with Ministers, and this business naturally falls into the hands of Ministers. They arc busy men attending to endless questions affecting individuals, corporations or local bodies- Such functions are indispensable under present conditions, but no one will pretend that they qualify a man to represent New' Zealand at the Washington Conference. We may go further, and question whether it. fits a man to lake the position of Cabinet Minister. If such a position is held on the condition of expressing the sentiments and carrying out the views of the permanent head of the Department, we have bureaucracy full-blown, and there is no kindly feeling towards that. It is highly desirable that we should return to something like the conditions that prevailed before the war. Successful Government demands a strong Opposition as well as a strong Government, and under present conditions no country constituency can afford to return an Opposition member, while city constituencies only too often return Labour members of extremist views. It is a condition that should be changed at the earliest possible date. Mr Massey, in answering Mr Wilford, said that if the Prime Minister had been aide to represent New Zealand he might have had an opportunity to speak, but he explained that a man could be just as useful without speaking. It is difficult to believe that oratory can count for anything when it is to be exercised on the men who will represent the various countries which are called together. In Committees and in private conversation a man carries the weight which ids personality or ability entitle him to. But the real point is that he is known to represent his country, and if his opinions conflict with those of others, it is the importance of his country which will be considered. The men who represent Belgium and Portugal at the forthcoming Conference may bring more knowledge and possibly more ability than others, but nobody expects that they will influence decisions in the same manner as those who represent countries which are more directly interested. New Zealand is keenly interested in the business which is to be brought forward, and it is satisfactory therefore to think that it is to be adequately represented. In spite of Mr Massey’s scepticism, we think there is the possibility of immense advantages to be obtained from the Conference. The questions in dispute between America and Japan are eminently such as are capable of settlement by negotiation. If this can be done in a satisfactory manner the risk of war on a large scale is eliminated for the Pacific, and the world will be able to turn its attention to the many problems of reconstruction. It is America’s first attempt in the field of international politics, and the spirit which animates many of her leading men does not conduce to hopefulness. The Senate has passed a Bill to exempt American coastwise shipping from Panama Canal dues. It will be remembered that when an attempt was previously made to do this Mr Woodrow Wilson, who was President, used his influence to defeat the project on the ground that it was a breach of the agreement made between America and England, known as the Clayton-Bulwer agreement. It is still a breach of the agreement, but Mr Wilson is no longer President, and the bringing forward of such a measure at such a time argues ill for international amity. Quarrelsome men are in high positions, and unless they are moved, men who are not quarrelsome arc certain to suffer.