EMPIRE RELATIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 79, 13 January 1928, Page 5

EMPIRE RELATIONS

LIAISON OFFICER.

APPOINTMENT TO NEW ZEALAND. REPRESENTATIVE OF BRITAIN. (Per Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 12. Discussions have been proceeding between the Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr J. G. Coates) and the Foreign Office with a view to the appointment by the latter of a liaison officer to take up duty in New Zealand. It is now announced that Mr P. B. B. Nichols has been selected. This appointment is the first practical outcome of the Imperial Conference’s recommendation for closer intra-Empire co-operation. The announcement here was delayed because it was preferred that New Zealand should make it first, but the hands of Downing Street were forced by an unanticipated disclosure in London. The appointment is officially regarded. as precedent to most important developments in intra-imperial cooperation. It is pointed out that the duties are analagous _to those of Mr Casey in Australia, with the difference that whereas Mr Casey’s expenditure is defrayed by the Commonwealth, that of Mr Nichols will be defrayed by Britain, notwithstanding that the appointment was made at the request of Mr Coates.

Both Foreign and Dominion officers point out that the position is not comparable with the contemplated appointment to Ottawa, which is diplomatic. Mr Nichols is aged 34, and unmarried. He is a bolder of the Military Cross. He has been associated with diplomatic work since 1920 and is at present Second Secretary at the Foreign Office. He will be attached to Mr Coates’ office at Wellington.