A—s

46

Sir JOSEPH WARD : Then, I now quite understand the point. I only want to make it perfectly clear as I tried to do during the course of my observations—and I was limiting my observations necessarily with a view to having a preliminary discussion upon this matter — that, so far as New Zealand is concerned, we have never had anything but the highest respect for the gentlemen who from time to time have filled the office of Governor in our country. We have found the Governors sent out from time to time, men of the highest integrity, and their desire has been not only to help the Old Land, but to help the land to which they have been sent as representatives of the King. In that respect I am not suggesting for a moment a permanency of advice as between the respective Prime Ministers of the self-governing countries and the representative appointed by the old land itself. In regard to the machinery that has existed up to now, we are not reflecting upon it in any way whatever, and, last of all, I neither conveyed, nor have I ever had any impression that the Colonial Office and the important executive officers of the Colonial Office have done anything other than their duty in every possible way and with the greatest possible satisfaction to the people of our country. Ido want to say, however, on that suggestion of Lord Elgin, that, of course, I was aware of the system of communications being forwarded to the respective Governments, and also of their having the right to communicate with one another. That is the case; but there are subjects upon which, under existing conditions, except privately or semi-officially, I, for one, would not presume to send a communication to the Prime Minister of another country. There are some matters which I think we ought to have the right to confer with one another upon. Again, lam not finding fault with the present machinery or system under which communications are sent to our Governments. Far from it; but in our country there are matters which crop up, which, in their general bearing, are of importance to ourselves, upon which I want the opportunity and the right to have a consultation with, or advice from, other Prime Ministers if Iso desire. The all-important fact exists that the present system is incomplete, and if a permanent Conference is established, including the Prime Minister of England, we could be in consultation with each other on matters of consequence to our countries which are growing at an enormous rate, and which are so scattered. I wish to make it clear, because I recognise the difficulties in establishing a basis to create an Imperial Conference, and those difficulties have presented themselves right away in the course of this discussion. I want, as far as lam concerned, to make it clear that I am broaching this question, not with the object of being put upon my defence from the point of view of the present work of the Colonial Office, because that is not in question so far as I am concerned. On the contrary, I think they do the work in a way that no one can reasonably find fault with; but the point is rather the difficulties created by our self-governing countries growing at such an enormous pace, and, there being a desire on their part to be brought into closer contact with each other and with the Mother-land, and the real issue is can we establish some permanent institution to enable us to discuss important matters of mutual concern, and above all, for the strengthening of the Old World and the New World too. So far as New Zealand is concerned, I wish at once to say that whatever decision is arrived at as to how the work should be carried on in the interval between Conferences, we are prepared to adopt any suggestion made to bear our full proportion of the cost entailed. Mr. DEAKIN : The Secretariat will not stand on a popular basis unless that responsibility is accepted. The contribution may be calculated on any proportion you like.

Second Day. 17 April 1907.

Proposed Imperial Council.