CLOSER EMPIRE CONSULTATION ON ECONOMICS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22772, 19 October 1948, Page 5

CLOSER EMPIRE CONSULTATION ON ECONOMICS

(10 a.m.) LONDON. Oct. 18. The Dominions’ Prime Ministers and other Ministerial representatives met in a plenary session at No. 10 Downing Street this morning.

The subjects listed for discussion were machinery for Commonwealth consultations and the status of the Domions’ High Commissioners. Amongst the points discussed during the debate on Commonwealth consultations was a suggestion that Commonwealth secretariats be set up in the various Dominions.

The discussion was aimed at urging generally that the machinery for consultation be speeded up and made more efficient.

The status of the Dominions’ High Commissioners will, it is believed, be improved as a result of the conference discussions. Legislative action in each Dominion will, it is learned, be necessary before this is accomplished. There is said to bo general agreement between the British and Dominions’ Governments that improved status is needed to make the increasingly important work of High Commissioners more effective. There is not any demand for a change in their title. A communique on the conference says: “Methods for closer consultation between Commonwealth countries were examined in the morning and afternoon. Special attention was paid to consultation in the fields of international economic affairs. A committee is to be set up to explore various proposals put forward and report to a later meeting. “It was further agreed in principle that the status of a High Commissioner should be raised. A committee! was set up to examine this question in detail and report back to a later meeting.’’