PEOPLE'S RIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 128, 2 June 1939, Page 9

PEOPLE'S RIGHT.

SELF-GOVERNMENT.

REPLY GIVEN TO RUMOUR.

SIR HARRY BATTERBEE'S POSITION. (Liy Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRLSTCHURCH. Tliursday. '■There is a. rumour put round that a certain person now in New Zealand was sent by the British Government to Newfoundland when that country lost its to self-government," said thn Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, during an address on behalf of the Labour candidate for Chri<-tchurch South, Mr. R. M. Macfaiiane. thifi evening. "Mr. Lynn? i«s saying that that person is here for the same purpose,' , said Mr. Savape. A N'oi.n: What i- he here for. then? "He represents the Imperial Government," replied Mr. Kava-jc •'and lie' is hero to dixciiix* matters with the (iovernmeut in the r-ame way as the British C'lininii.-rioners Jo in Canada and South Africa and other countries. He is here for no other purpose. The people of this country still have the risht to govern t hansel vim, and they are going to govern thenifelven."

The flii_'h ("innmis-ioner for tiie United Kingdom in New Xcalaiul, Sir Harry Batterliee. is not the lirr-t, btit the last High C , ommii--ioner to be u]ipointed to a Dominion. The records of lii- cm ior -how that he ha.- never had any official connect ion with Newfound-

land, ami it is learned from hi<s office in Wellington that he made his only vifit to that country in with the Special Service Squadron of the Royal Navy, on an Kinpire cruise.

hi MtlSit Newfoundland, which had been self-governing since 18."m, was iu financial difficulties so great that il was compelled to have recourse to the Hritish I Government, for The British (ioveinmen , .. appointed a Koyul ( oin-mini-iou. which recommended that, iu consideration of certain measures of financial aid, the existing Legislature mid (loveriiiiient should, for the time

being, be Mupended, and that until Newfoundland became -elt-support injr again i it dliould be ruled by the < ioveriior, acti ing on the advice of a Commission of *i.\ (three from Newfoundland and three j from the United Kingdom). The Govi enior-in-Coiiiniisi-ion would bu reepon- ■ to the Dominions Secretary for I the good government of the island.

I Those recommendation*, which denoI ted a suspension of the Constitution in i Newfoundland, were incorporated in a > Bill, which wan passed by the United 'Kingdom Parliament, in December. 11c33. i The Oiiiiiiii*i(in took office on February ! Hi. HKS4.