BRITISH DECISION

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26127, 1 June 1950, Page 6

BRITISH DECISION

MR HOLLAND ACCEPTS EXPLANATION From Our Own Reporter

WELLINGTON. May 31

“I accept without any reservation whatsoever the explanation given by Lord Macdonald as to why the New Zealand Government had not received prior advice of the British Government’s intention to end petrol rationing,” said the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) this evening. Mr Holland added that .so far as he was concerned the incident was now closed.

A London message says: “A mechanical breakdown in communications” was the cause of the failure to notify the New Zealand Government - of Britain’s intention to deration petrol, according to statements in London. It is authoritatively learned that advice of the British Government’s intention was sent to all Commonwealth Governments, including New Zealand, through the normal Commonwealth diplomatic channels, six to 12 hours before the announcement was made in the House of Commons.

The normal channels for this type of information are three; (1) if advice emanates from the United Kingdom Government it may be passed to the Commonwealth High Commissioners in London, who inform their own Governments; (2) it may be passed direct to the United Kingdom High Commissioners in the Commonwealth countries, who inform the Commonwealth Governments; (3) it may be done by direct communication between the responsible Ministers in London and their counterparts in the Commonwealth countries. In this case, it is understood, instructions were sent to the United Kingdom High Commissioner in Wellington (Sir Charles Price), who was asked to inform the New Zealand Government. For some reason, which is now being investigated, this instruction was not received in time to anticipate the newspaper report.