HIGH COMMISSIONER

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 174, 24 June 1926, Page 5

HIGH COMMISSIONER

REPORT OF A STATEMENT. QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT. Per Press' Association. WELLINGTON, Juno 23.. In the House of Representatives this afternoon Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) asked the Prime Minister whether his attention had been called to a statement made by Sir. James Parr immediately on his arrival in London on the subject of the immigration group settlement scheme in Western Australia; whether he had seen the contradiction issued by the AgentGeneral for Western Australia ) and whether, in view of the bad impression created, he would undertake on behalf of the Parliament and people of New Zealand to instruct the High Commissioner that all statements made by him, particularly those referring to other Dominions and other countries, should bo based on ascertained facts.

The Prime Minister replied that, until Sir James Parr had intimated that the press report of his interview was substantially correct, the Government would be justified in saying that Sir James had not made the statement in the manner which it appeared. He knew Sir James Parr very well and he thought Sir James was quite seized of the position he occupied. He also believed that Sir Janies Parr’s good judgment would be of great assistance to him. Sir James Parr’s attitude was to preserve friendlv relations with the sister Dominions. He would make inquiries, but he felt sure that Sir James Parr had been misreportcd.