REPRESENTATION IN LONDON.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20620, 9 August 1932, Page 9

REPRESENTATION IN LONDON.

j RESIDENT MINISTER HINTED AT. I OUTCOME OF THE OTTAWA I CONFERENCE. i [THE rHESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, August 8. Although the New Zealand Government has not considered the question so far, it is possible that it may be asked, after the Ottawa Conference, to go into the desirability of a change in the form of its representation in London, according to a statement by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. "W. Forbes), in the course of an interview. Mr Forbes was discussing the oxpiration at the end of this year of the term of the present High Commissioner; and he said he had it in mind that tho British Government might raise the question at Ottawa of the Dominion's representation in London. The question was not on tho agenda paper, but he thought the point might be discussed. It was expected that after the Ottawa Conference the Dominions would be brought into closer economic relationship with Great Britain, and it was interesting to note that Australia was sending Mr Stanley Bruce to London as Resident Minister, in which capacity he would not lose his scat in the Federal Cabinet. An Imperial Council. Asked whether ho considered such a move would lead to tho formation of an Imperial Council sitting in London,_ a suggestion that has received prominence in Great Britain for some time_. the Prime Minister said ho could not venture an opinion on this point at the moment. He said tho question had not been raised in any shape or form at the 1930 Imperial Conference, which he had attended. It was then agreed that the present system of having a High Commissioner in London mot this Dominion's requirements fully, and the New Zealand Government was'at present satisfied with v the arrangement now in operation and with the good work the High Commissioners had been able to do. However, thero might be a change in Imperial economic relations after Ottawa, and Great Britain might feel that tho presence in London of Ministerial representatives from the Dominions in closer contact with their Governments might be desirable. It had to be explained that no official suggestion or hint" of change had been made, Mr Forbes added, and he was merely speaking of something which had occurred to him. Much would depend upon what happened at Ottawa, and tho Government would consider the merits of an 7 proposal that might be advanced.