DOMINION'S RIGHTS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 23 August 1935, Page 6

DOMINION'S RIGHTS

(To the Editor). Sir, —It would appear that many people fail to remember, or perhaps they do not understand, the meaning of Dominion status. Or perhaps they may be under the impression that the Statute of Westminster confers the right to manage their own affairs only on the four Dominions leaving Britain with no rights. An example of tjiis mental attitude is disclosed in your yesterday’s issue by a. report from Hamilton of the speech by Mr Agar, deputy-chairman of the Dairy Produce Board. From this it appears that the board is asking the British War Office to buy New Zealand butter for the army, navy and air forces in place of British margarine. This is a clear case of interference with the internal affairs of Britain and such as would cause a storm of protest if someone in Britain attempted to interfere with New Zealand. Margarine is good wholesome food and better than bad butter. It is made under hygienic conditions and under scientific control. It is made from British materials by English men and women and paid for bv the British taxpayers. To suggest to the War Office that they should" put tlieir.own people out of work for the benefit of any Dominion is rank selfishness. Another case is to be found in a. petition which is being surreptitiously handed round this country asking H.M. the King to command the Privy Council to make such adjustments to the financial system “as shall be recommended by a judicial commission. The source of the. petition is not stated, but from the fact that His Majesty is asked to veto the appointment on the commission of anyone who understands finance or economies and to ensure that witnesses shall be heard who recommend the establishment of a national dividend, it- is obvious that the Douglas Credit people are responsible for the movement. Here, again, I detect interference with Britain by people in the Dominion. Obviously the Privy Council has no power to interfere with the finances of the Dominions, otherwise the Statute of Westminster is a dead letter. If the Privy Council has authority ,to interfere in finance it can only be*"in Britain, in which case it is unwarranted presumption for anyone in the Dominions to dare to interfere.—l am, etc., J. E. HORSFIELD. Manaia, Aug. 22, 1935.