PREMIER WITHDRAWS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 148, 8 June 1932, Page 8

PREMIER WITHDRAWS

FROM OTTAWA DELEGATION DOMINION'S PROBLEMS. MR COATES MAY ALSO STAY AT HOME. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, June 7. The Prime Minister this evening made an important announcement concerning the representation of New Zealand at the Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa: “I have from time to time indicated in public pronouncements my view of the extreme importance of the Ottawa Conference, not only to the British Commonwealth as a whole, but to this Dominion individually, and holding this view, I have consistently felt that New Zealand should be represented at Ottawa by the strongest possible delegation. It was for this reason, and this reason only, that I considered, and by colleagues agreed with me, that the delegation should be headed by the Prime Minister. “In making that decision the Government had in no way lost sight if the serious and urgent problems with which this Dominion is confronted, but these problems have since given every indication of increasing gravity and complexity. I have given most earnest thought to the position and have come to the conclusion that in the existing circumstances the Prime Minister «>f this Dominion should properly remain in New Zealand.

‘I have therefore decided that, notwithstanding the Importance of the Ottawa deliberations, the cor rect course for me to pursue is to withdraw from the delegation. The representatives of New Zealand will accordingly be the Et. Hon. J. G. Coates and the Hon. W. Downie Stewart. “I have the utmost confidence in their ability to perform the task that lies in front of them, and I am convinced that the interests of Now Zealand will be best served by the ar. rangement now made. ’ ’ A later message states that it is now considered unlikely that Mr Coates will go to Ottawa although no announcement to this effect is made. It is recalled that Mr Coates earlier was reluctant to leave the Dominion and only yielded to the pressure of the primary producers in allowing his nomination. As the country’s problems, especially in relation to unemployment, are likely to be intensified, it is considered that he will ask to be allowed to remain in New Zea land. An announcement concerning this is expected next week.