N.Z. & RUSSIA

Grey River Argus, 23 July 1941, Page 5

N.Z. & RUSSIA

CLOSER RELATIONS. URGED BY WELLINGTON MEETING. PARLIAMENT BLDGS, July 22. A meeting, under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. W. E. Barnard, who is also President of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, was held to discuss the formation of a society to improve relation? with Russia. Among those present were representatives of cultural groups, and repres»n,t«filves o/f professional and business men and women. It resolved to form an organisation named the New Zealand Society for closer relations with Russia, its objects being to promote cultural, diplomatic and economic relations between New Zealand and the Soviet, and to do everything possible to help to secure victory against Nazis and Fascists. The meeting decided to send a letter to the acting-Prime Minister, expressing the view that the Government give consideration to exchanging diplomatic representatives with the Soviet, investigate the possibilities of greater trade and of putting at the disposal of Russian people any surplus commodities in New Zealand not needed for war purposes by the United Kingdom or British- Dominions.