PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE Important Items On Agenda

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30859, 18 September 1965, Page 16

PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE Important Items On Agenda

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 7. The biggest and most widely representative conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association would be held in New Zealand from November 30 to December 8, the chairman of the association, Mr W. B. Tennent, said today. Mr Tennent is a member of Parliament and a former Cabinet Minister. “With many Commonwealth nations deeply involved in major international issues and disputes around the world, this year’s Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference in Wellington will be one of the most significant since their inception in 1948,” Mr Tennent said. He said more than 150 delegates from about 80 legislatures would attend, compared with 75 delegates from 35 legislatures at the last conference in New Zealand in 1950. U.S. DELEGATION

“The importance attached to the conference Is indicated by the top-level delegations coming from the United Kingdom and the United States, which attends as an associate member of the association,” Mr Tennent said. “The American representatives are able to take part only in the foreign affairs debate —good reason for the strength of their delegation —although they will join in other activities outside the actual conference.” Mr Tennent said the United States delegation of eight would be led by Senator William Fulbright (Democrat), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations

Committee, and Congressman Wayne L. Hays (Democrat), of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives. The 10 British delegates

would be led by a Minister still to be named.

Mr Tennent said “public attention will naturally be drawn to the international

affairs discussions which will [range over United Nations issues, South-east Asia, Kash[mir, Africa and elsewhere. “However, other important items on the agenda include economic growth in the Commonwealth, parliamentary government in the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s future role in Commonwealth development. “In recent years increasing attention has been given to the need for greatly increased contacts, understanding and practical co-operation between members of the Commonwealth legislatures, and this year’s conference more than ever before will endeavour to give positive effect to the associtaion’s ideals and objectives.” Mr Tennent said the delegates would arrive in New Zealand on November 13 and 14. On November 16 they would set out in seven parties on pre-conference tours of both islands, returning to Wellington on November 27.

The conference will be opened on Tuesday, November 30, by the GovernorGeneral, Sir Bernard Fergusson.