N.Z. Welcomes India’s Autonomy, Says Prime Minister

Grey River Argus, 30 June 1947, Page 8

N.Z. Welcomes India’s Autonomy, Says Prime Minister

The New Zealand GovernmcnJ; had been, following ‘recentl devefogSn,exits. with<' close attention," -particularly thoseirelating to the- process by which India was l assume independence, said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser 1.-

; commenting on the Viceroy’s statement on India. Mr Fraser said that he believed the. United Kingdom Government was taking the right course to introduce legislation/during the coming session for the transfer of power on the Dominion status.

••.‘.‘As amember of the British Commonwealth, New Zealand is naturally and deeply interested in any decision designed to give India, or parts of India, the same privileges as we ourselves enjoy. It .is, however, not fur us ;to advise India whether she snoula remain within the "fellowship of the Commonwealth or seperate . herhelf from-it. On behalf of the New Zealand'Government; however, I wouldlike to make,it abundantly clear th?' we in New Zealand'would welcome a continuation of our partnership with India .on .this new basus.”

Mr; Fraser said: “The people of the British Dominions do not regard Dominion status .'as an imperfect kind of independence.; On the contrary, it is independence with something added, not independence with something tak en ’away. It carries with it membership ,of a "free and powerful associa- ; lion, from which every clement of constraint • has vanished, but one in which-a way has been found for the practice of mutual confidence and cooperation in ; full " respect for the independence, sovereignity and individuality of each, member. The New Zealand Government in acclaiming the approaching consummation of India’s ’independence ■ therefore expresses the hope that that independence might be- exercised within the British C'qmmonw.ealth of Nations to the greatly increased benefit of all members'of; the Commonwealth and of of the whole world, and the New Zealand assures the pepple of/India in ail .circumstances, of its friendship and goodwill.”