LIAISON OFFICER

Evening Star, Issue 19763, 13 January 1928, Page 7

LIAISON OFFICER

APPOINTED TO NEW ZEALAND CLOSER EMPIRE CO-OPERATION. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 12. (Received January 13, at 9.80 a.m.) Discussions have been proceeding between Mr Coates and the Foreign Office with a view to the appointment by the latter of a liaison officer to take up duty in New Zealand. It is now announced that Mr P. B. B. Nichols has been selected for this appointment. This is the first practical outcome of the Imperial Conference’s recommendation for closer interempire co-oper-ation. The announcement here was delayed because it was preferred that New Zealand should make it first, but the hands of Downing Street were forced by the unanticipated disclosure in London. The appointment is officially regarded as a precedent to the most important development in interimperial co-operation. It is pointed out that the duties are analagous to Mr Casey’s, with the difference that whereas Mr Casey’s expenditure is defrayed by the Commonwealth, that of Mr Nichols will be defrayed by Britain, notwithstanding that the appointment was made at the request of Mr Coates. Both the foreign and dominion offices point out that the position is not comparable with the contemplated appointment to Ottawa, which is a diplomatic one. Mr Nichols is thirty-four years of age, unmarried, and the holder of the Military Cross. He has been assoch ated with diplomatic work since 1920, and is at present second secretary to the Foreign Office. He will be attached to Mr Coates’s office at Wellington.