"UNWORKABLE."

Press, Volume L, Issue 14901, 14 February 1914, Page 11

"UNWORKABLE."

HIGH COMMISSIONERS AS CABINET MINISTERS.

HON. JAMES ALLEN'S VIEWS

(SPECIAL TO "THE FBJSSS.")

WELLINGTON, February 13

When the suggestion emanating from Canada and tentatively supported by the Hon. J. Cook (Prime Minister of tho Commonwealth), that the High Commissionership should be made a Cabinet position, and that its occupant should have a seat on the Imperial Dofence Committee, was mentioned to-day to the Hon. James Allen (Minister of Financo), he expressed the opinion that the proposed innovation would be unworkable, so far as Sew Zealand was concerned.

"If tlie High Commissioner is to be a Cabinet Minister in reality," paid Mr Allen, "he must keep in touch with hie colleagues, otherwise he loses all tho benefit of being a Cabinet Minister. That is our trouble out here. Canada is only a few days' 6team away from London, and her representative could attend a sitting of the Imperial Dofence Committee, and then go back and consult with his colleagues. He could be in touch with them all the time, but the position of the New Zealand representative is quite different, on account of tho great distance that separates us from London. Unless tho High Commissioner is a Cabinet Minister, I don't think he ought to sit on the Committee of Imperial Defence, at all events unless he is in close touch with tho Cabinet, and knows their feelings. That is why the Imperial Conferences have turned down the idea of tho High Commissioners being members of the Imperial Defence Committee."