GENEVA CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 22572, 13 February 1937, Page 23

GENEVA CONFERENCE

MR ARMSTRONG ATTENDING MINISTERIAL DELEGATE FROM DOMINION [Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, February 12. Cabinet has decided to send a Alinisterial delegate to the International Labour Conference at Geneva next June, and early in April the Alimster of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) will leave for Europe. His wife will accompany him. “ Except for the decision that I should represent the New Goverrunont lit the Genova International Labour Conference 'this year, the arrangements for my departure have not been completed,” said the Alinister in an interview this evening. “It was thought at first that I would travel to London with the Prime Minister, but in view of the Labour Party’s twentyfirst annual conference on Easter Alonday in Wellington, and the fact that Air Savage will leave by the liner Airawa on March 27, it was decided to defer my departure till early in April. This will enable me to give at the party conference an outline of the industrial legislation and our future policy.” Inquiries as to the likely date of sailing showed that there is a direct ship leaving Wellington on April 7 for London by way of the Panama Canal, and also a ship will leave on April 6 for Sydney, arriving there in time to connect with the Orient liner Otranto on April. 10. By going that way it would bo possible if one left the ship at Marseilles and crossed overland through France to arrive in London on Alay 11, a day before the Coronation, but a final decision as to the date of sailing and the route has not yet been made. It seems probable, however, that Mr and Airs Armstrong will go Home by way of the Alediterranean ports and overland through France to Calais. After a few days in London the Alinister will proceed to Geneva, where the International Labour Conference will be held throughout the greater part of June. .

Last year tlie Government was represented at the Geneva Conference by Mill. M'Keen, M.P. (Wellington South). Hitherto it had not been considered practicable to send a Ministerial delegate to Geneva because in normal circumstances the New Zealand Parliament assembled in June. This year, however, the parliamentary session will not begin before the third week in August, thus affording the Minister of Labour an opportunity to attend the International Labour Conference. . It is admitted in parliamentary circles that on this coming occasion Mr Armstrong, with his formidable record of industrial enactments, will not only have much to talk about, but will be in a position to speak as one having authority.