The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1909. THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2506, 20 May 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1909. THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

One of the chief political questions of the moment is whether Sir Joseph Ward should go to London as New Zealand’s representative at the Naval Conference that has been convened by the British Government. Under ordinary circumstances there would ho no hesitation in affirming at once that the Premier should make the journey, for, as the political head of the Dominion, it is eminently fitting that he should represent us on a matter of such vital import. Unfortunately, circumstances of a quite exceptional nature intervene and complicate the issue. The Conference is fixed to take place towards the'end of July, and if Sir Joseph attends lie will bo compelled to miss the greater part of the Parliamentary session, which is to open next mouth. This would be regrettable at any time, but particularly so this year, for there is every indication that there are stirring times ahead for the Government once tile legislators are assembled in Wellington. Sir Joseph Ward will he meeting a new Parliament, one that comprises much more aggressive elements than its predecessors,' and he will have to face it with a reconstructed Cabinet, which may fail to give him the united and capable support that is so necessary to a loader in the game of party politics. The personnel of the Ministry itself is hound to come under criticism, and there will he several matters of the utmost importance that .are likely to be dealt with. At such a time there can be no doubt that the place of a Parliamentary captain is on the bridge, and to leave his post for the sake of the easier and very much pleasanter jaunt to England would, in our opinion, be manifestly wrong. It is not impossible to find a gentleman, other than the Premier, who can represent New Zealand at the Naval Conference quite as capably as Sir Joseph Ward, but it would be impossible to find a satisfactory substitute for the head of the Government in the House of Representatives during the coming session. The Premier will, in all probability, find it difficult enough to guide the Ship of State through the perilous shoals that seem to await its next Parliamentary passage, and it would be unreasonable to ask that any other Minister should take up the task. The only alternative would be for Sir Joseph to induce Parliament to agree to the postponement of the consideration of contentious matters, hut to do this at the present juncture would he to reduce the proceedings to the level of a farce. It would mean the shirking of numerous important questions that can only be properly handled in the Premier s presence, in order that he should personally attend to one that can be efficiently dealt -with by someone else. It must he remembered that apart Loin his position as Premier, Sir Joseph Ward has not any special claim to represent the Dominion on the question of defence. It is one to which he had not given special attention until a comparatively recent period, and whilst full credit must he given to him for his statesmanlike attitude over the Dreadnought gift, the. fact remains that lie has entirely failed, so iar, to realise the Dominion’s need in regard to internal defence. It is distinctly unfortunate that the Naval Conference could not have been held towards the end of the year, in which case the Premiei could very properly have made the trip, and everyone would have been satisfied, but presumably the English Government lias good reasons for fixing the date as early as July. It is to be hoped that when Parliament meets some satisfactory way out of the difficulty will be discovered so that New Zealand can be fittingly represented at a great Imperial congress without any attempt being made to ignore the legislative necessities of the Dominion.