IN WASHINGTON

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 238, 8 October 1941, Page 11

IN WASHINGTON

N.Z. REPRESENTATIVE?

QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day

"The question of the appointment of a Minister or representative in Washington will be considered when further necessary preliminary arrangements are made," stated the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, in the House of Representatives last night when replying to questions asked by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, during discussion of the supplementary estimates. An item in the vote for the Prime Minister's Department was £2000 for preliminary expenses toward the establishment of a New Zealand Legation at Washington. Mr. Holland said he thought it would be appreciated if the Prime Minister would indicate what progress had been made, how far the Government had got with its project of establishing a Legation, was it proposed to make the present appointment permanent ana what was to happen to the Waimarino electorate, if such a thing happened? The country, he said, was much interested in the development of New Zealand's relations with the great Republic of America. Mr. Holland also sought information on whether the Minister of I Lands, Mr. Langstone, had been suct cessful in opening up new markets. I Replying, Mr. Fraser said that the j vote would not be enough to cover j expenses. The whole question of acquiring suitable and worthy premises for a Legation was under immediate consideration and he hoped immediate action. The Minister of Finance would be asked shortly to provide a much larger sum.

Referring to Mr. Langstone, Mr. Fraser said he had done excellent work. Both he and Mr. Coates were spoken of in the highest terms. When he was in Britain, continued Mr. Fraser, and heard of the number on the staff at Washington he felt there was a grave risk of overdoing it, but after an examination of tne position he was of opinion that the staff was fully required. Mr. Fraser added that the question of an agreement in regard to the whole of trading was under consideration. Whether it could be arranged or not he was not in a position to say. It was desirable that it should be, but it was quite possible that certain conditions might be laid down that would cut across the conditions applying in other parts of the British Commonwealth.