POLITICAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2525, 11 June 1909, Page 2

POLITICAL.

THE INFORMAL PARLIAMENT,

THE PREMIER’S PATRIOTISM

Dealing editorially with the events of tho meeting the '“Dominion” wrote as follows: —Tho most significant feature of the discussion was tho attitude of Sir Joseph Ward.' It was plain from the outset he had made up his mind that he was going to tho Conference — and on his own terms. When questioned .as to why lie insisted that the business of the country should be hung up simply because he would be absent, his reply amounted to little more than the contention that it was not reasonable to expect him to go and leave liis party to carry on the business in the absence of the head of the Government. We have shown tho utter absurdity of this contention, and it was fully enforced in tlie course of the debate. Sir Joseph Ward will find it difficult to explain away his attitude after the carrying of the first resolution yesterday. Members unanimously agreed that it was desirable that he should attend the Naval Conference. ATI party considerations were laid aside? and the high compliment of a nuanfmous decision was arrived at. And then tho Prime Minister of the country, who had taken two hours in an endeavor to fittingly impress members with a proper conception of the magnitude and intensity of the fierce fires of patriotism which were burning in his besom and influencin'-' liis actions — this Prime Minister, who, foir two hours, had striven to convince- members and the country that his one and only object was the announcement of the interests of the Empire, brazenly declared that nothing would induce him to go to the Conference but tlie adjournment of Parliament. Let there be no mistake about this. The words used are not Sir Joseph Ward’s but the effect of his actions is exactly as stated. After the unanimous expression of opinion from members that Sir Joseph Ward should attend the Conference. Mr. James Allen put a direct question to him, asking him to waive the condition that Parliament must adjourn or lie (Sir Joseph) would not go to England. Sir Joseph Ward refused point blank. Could there bo any stronger commentary on the Prime Minister’s professions than is disclosed by his attitude yesterday ? Will anyone be deceived? Will anyone believe that liis attempt to prevent Parliament from sitting is actuated by patriotic motives? Will they believe that it is in the interests of the Empire? Will they not instead realise what must now he plain to all, that is, that the Prime Minister’s patriotism does not raise above the le.vel of party —-that his constant professions of readiness to sacrifice til to the needs of the Empire are carefully safeguarded by the reservation that his own party interests must not suffer? Yesterday’s meeting should prove of value to the country, if only for the fact that it lias shown clearly the true level of the Prime Minister’s patriotism.

THE FINANCIAL ASPECT.

MR. JAS. ALLEN’S OPINIONS

In speaking to his amendment against the adjournment of Parliament, Mr. Jas. Allen said. —“The Premier had suggested that Parliament, after passing supplies, and presumably a Loan Bill, and granting ail extension of appropriations, from June 30 to September 30, should adjourn. But the appropriations would be only those of last year, and no new works could be undertaken until Parliament met again. Everything would be at a standstill, and the Ministry would be free to do what they liked with the colony’s money until September 30. the only limitation being that they should not spend more than: was voted last year, and that only on certain specified works. The issue of party had been brought in by the Prime Minister. Had the Premier been actuated only by Imperial instincts, lie would have said the matter was too great for party, and that he was not going to ask Parliament to consider him or his party, but that he would go to the Imperial Conference, and trust his party and his colleagues, and rely upon the honor of tho Leader of the Opposition, as had been done on a previous occasion.

If Sir Joseph had sought the co-oper-ation of Mr. Masse} 7 , he •would havo been made satisfied that the Opposition would not take unfair advantage of liis absence. What he had done was for the glorification of himself and his party. In Heaven’s name, what was there to prevent tlie business of the country from being carried on during the absence of its Prime Minister ? Supply would lie voted before he went, and it could be left to the other members of the Ministry to bring down the Public Work’s Estimates, etc. It was monstrous to say that eighty men should let three months go by because tlie Prime Minister was absent. The declaration of the Prime Minister that he would not go to the Conference,if the House did not adjourn placed' members in a false position—was an attempt to coerce members to co.nsent to what they believed was a wrong thing. He hoped that tho Prime Minister Would withdraw liis (threat —for it was nothing less than a threat. The amendment should'be accepted, for it did not seek to prevent the Prime Minister from going to the Conference, as members had signified their agreement that lie should go. On behalf of the Opposition he would . say that if Sir Joseph attended tho Conference whoever' he left in charge would receive every consideration from members of their party.” (Hear, hears.) . MR. HERDMAN’S VIEWS.

' “Was he to understand that the Ministry was so weak that the Prime Minister was afraid to leave the Dominion with Parliament, still in session. Hei could assure him that there was no need for fear for the members of the' Opposition, because it was one of their principal desires that the Prime Minister’s party should continue to occupy their present benches during the next three years, until the

Augean stables were cleaned (laughter). He believed' that they, had reached a different condition in the country’s history from any that had been experienced for 17 or 18 years. The tide had begun to turn. The - Prime Minister had virtually admitted that £250,000 a ,year had been spent by ,the Government on the Civil Service that should not have been spent. Was it not time that legislation was introduced which would place the Civil Service under an independent, .non-politacal board? He thought that this should be done immediately, and he believed that tho Prime Minister had colleagues who were quite able to carry out that matter, even in his absence.”

THE EDITORS’ TELEGRAM.

MR. T. E. TAYLOR’S SPEECH

Referring to the special telegram marked private and confidential which was sent to the editors of New Zealand papers by Sir Joseph Ward, at tlie time of the Dreadnought offer Mr. T. E. Taylor said that it was the second sentence of this he believed, which had won for the Government practical immunity from hostile newspaper criticism of the unconstitutional aspect of their action. Neariy every newspaper editor sank all considerations of party under the influence of a statement of that kind. » He believed that when the offer was made the Government had no information other than what every man in the country had from the papers. Canada and' Australia had laid claim to no such secret information. Ho denied that the business of this purely consultative Naval Conference transcended anything that could bo dealt with in this country. The Government had been retrenching hundreds -of Civil Servants, and there were several thousands of men out of employment, ■who did not know where to look for to-morrow’s meal. \

The Prime Minister: How many are there in Christchurch ?

Mr. Taylor: I will undertake to say there are 400 or 500 out of employment in Christchurch. One hundred and fifty have given their names in writing in response to an appeal, but the proportion was always greater of men who did not care to disclose their position. Ho wanted to se.e an efficient representation of tho Dominion at the Naval Conference. None would oppose that, but he held that they could secure such representation without dislocating all the public business of tlie country for the next six months. “I believe,” said Mr. Taylor, “that a vast number of people will believe that tlie Premier’s present desire to figure on a stage so big as London is will account for his strong desire to be present at this conference.” The volunteer force of this country was completely disorganised and disheartened, the Defence Council had been recently disbanded, and matters relating to defence in New Zealand were in a perfectly chaotic state. That was an important subject with which Parliament should deal at once. As against Mr. Blatehford’s statement of opinion, he could state that of Cardinal Moran, if ho liked, that the Dreadnought offer was “a piece of hysterical folly.” Ho was quite willing to support the Prime Minister going Home, but tho prospect of getting through the business of the session in two months was not good, unless a large number of important matters were going to be shelved. It was very, flattering to any man to take part in such a conference, but after tlie Imperial Government had gone out of its way to make it clear that it was only a subsidiary conference, and seeing that Australia was sending a senator, who was, to be sure, Minister for Defence, and Canada did not suggest sending her Prime Minister, New Zealand should have been represented by the High Commissioner. The proposal to adjourn tlie session was a reflection oil every member of the House. If the Prime Minister was ill would Parliament be prorogued? It was inconceivable. If Parliament was sitting when the Prime Minister was away, he would be able to communicate with them, which would be a great advantage. Either Mr. Millar or Mr. Fowlds could have conducted the business of the session with dignity and success \in tlie absence of the Prime Minister.