N.Z. AND INDIA

Grey River Argus, 31 January 1946, Page 5

N.Z. AND INDIA

VISIT OF HIGH COMMISSIONER PROSPECTS. OF SELF-GOVERNMENT P.A. WELLINGTON, Jan. 30 A State luncheon was held’ in honour of Sir Raghunath Paranjpye, High Commissioner fox’ India in Australia, who is on a holiday visit to the Dominion. Another guest was Sir Charles Rosenthal who recently relinquished the appointment of Administrator of Norfolk Island. Hon. W. Nash said that, so far as the New Zealand section of the British Comonwealth was concerned, there was nothing it longed for more than complete Self-Government in India in complete and' absolute association with the British Commonwealth. The British Commonwealth could not go on without India. No, could India go on without the Commonwealth.

Sir Raghunath Paranjpye said that New Zealand had shown the way to the world in many phases of social reform, like social security, and so forth. He had not seen a country that was better endowed than than New Zealand, nor a country whose people made better use of all the opportunities given to them. New Zealand was an object lesson to many countries in schemes of social development. Not only had New Zealand done well in internal advancement, but it had played a very important part in international affairs. Sir Raghunath said he thought India could become a component part ol the Comonwealth, enjoying the same status as other Dominions.

He said that the present discontent in certain circles in India was due, to a certain want of confidence in certain sections of the British public. British public opinion had changed, but impressions gained long ago did not. change immediately. Sir Charles Rosenthal said that relationships between New Zealand soldiers and airmen and the people of Norfolk Island had been harmonious. There was a big future lor Norfolk Island, which was sure to attract a big influx of tourists when normal conditions returned.