A MINISTER'S COMMENT
In conversation this morning the Hon. G. W. Russell, referring to the message published to-day, said that he was not surprised at the announcement. At the luncheon given by the Commercial Travellers' Club in Wellington on Aiizac Day, at which the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward had been among tho guests, he had expressed the opinion very strongly that, in view of the great interest New Zealand had taken in the war and the territorial and financial adjustments arising out of the war, it was absolutely necessary that the Dominion should be represented not' only at the conference which was just about concluding, but also for the remaining period of the war and for matters that had to be settled later on. New Zealand had earned the right to. such representation in recognition of the part taken in the war and the sacrifices of this country's brave soldiers and the financial responsibilities cheerfully undertaken by the people.
In particular ,it was necessary that some one, with full authority to speak and act on behalf of the Dominion, should be present when the terms of peace were being considered. To allow Samoa to revert to Germany would be a catastrophe 'to New Zealand. Those islands would become a jumping-off place for Ira-ids on New Zealand, and that would mean the maintenance by the Dominion, of naval, land, and air defences that would prove an intolerable burden. No High Commissioner could adequately represent New Zealand in such matters.; it was necessary to have a Minister of the Crown. He felt certain that the public of the Dominion would ( heartily approve of a decision that from now till the end of the war—and probably for'all limo afterwards —New Zealand would be represented by a Minister resident in Great Britain as an adviser to the Imperial Government in respect to the Dominion's interests—a Minister who would take his place in the Imperial Council which, he felt sure, would evolve from the present position.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 42, 17 August 1918, Page 7
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333A MINISTER'S COMMENT Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 42, 17 August 1918, Page 7
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