EIGHT TO DICTATE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2234, 21 September 1922, Page 5

EIGHT TO DICTATE.

DENIED BY SIR F. D. BELL.

SENSATION AT MANDATES COMMISSION. AT OBJECTIONS TO CONTROL. [By Electric Cable-Copyright] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Wednesday 7 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 19. The Australian Press Association's Geneva correspondent states that Sir F. Dillon Bell, on behalf of his Government, denied tiie right of the Mandates Commission to interpret for New Zealand the mean.ng of her covenant or to dictate to her the procedure for carrying o*'t her mandates. DOMINION INTERPRETS OWN LAWS. SWEDISH DELEGATE’S CRITICISM. (Received Wednesday, 8.25 p.m.) GENEVA, Sept. 19. Something like a sensation was created by Sir F. Dillon Bell’s denial of the right of the Permanent Mandates Commission to interpret for New Zealand the meaning of the covenant under which she exercises her mandate over Samoa, or to dictate the procedure New Zealand should auopt in carrying out her duties. The declaration was made when the committee presented its report of the Permanent Mandates Commission, which has been amended in certain important particulars, With the concurrence of the Australian and New Zealand delegates. Neither side takes exception to the report in its new form, but there was some plain speaking both in defence of the Permanent Mandates Commission, and in criticism of its methods. Dr. Nansen moved the adoption of the report. He thanked the mandatory powers for the way mey carried out their work. on the other hand, he said tiie duties of the Mandates Commission were not always pleasant. If it was always complimentary, it would not be of much use. It must be critical when criticism was necessary. DUTY TO BE WA. AIFUL. Madame Anna Wicksell, a Swedish member of the Mandates Commission, blamed the Australian Government for not furnishing fuller information in the first instance, instead of leaving it to be dragged out of the Higli Commissioner at the last moment. The Mandates Commission had received the High Commissioner’s comments only after its own work was finished. Madame Wicksell added; “We feel it our duty to be watchful, as we have to safeguard the interests of men and women who are not capable of defending themselves. We must look with their eyes and feel with their hearty and sometimes their eyes and hearts are suspicious. NEW ZEALAND’S OBLIGATIONS. Sir F. Dillon Bell • followed. He paid a tribute to the Mandate Commission’s care and Impartiality, but he pointed out that New Zealand had a dual obligation: firstly, as member of the League, and secondly as a mandatory defining the legal position. He said: “His Majesty, in the right of his Dominion of New Zealand has accepted the mandate for Western Samoa. What His Majesty does in the right of his Dominion he does on the advice of his ministers In that Dominion, not of the ministers of Britain, and tne statement which I present is one which the Government of New Zealand very respectfully, but very urgently presents to this assembly. The New Zealand Parliament legislates foi Western Samoa, and the Administrator rules and administers those laws. New Zealand is under an honourable obligation to legislate and administer in accordance with the terms and intentions of the covenant of the League of Nations.” WILLING TO RECEIVE ADVICE. “She is willing and anxious to receive suggestions and advice from either the Permanent Mandates Commission or the Council of the League, but cannot admit the Commission’s power to interpret for her tiie meaning of the covenant, or to dictate what procedure New Zealand should adopt in her endeavours to perform her duties under the League." Sir F. Dillon Bell offered two objections to the present procedure, Firstly, the report of Mandates Commission should be to the Council, not to tne public. New Zealand had nothing to fear from investigation and courted the fullest inquiry, but New Zealanders did not court or desire opinions upon their laws and administration from anybody other than the Council or the Assembly. The Council must necessarily require from Its Mandates Commission .ie freest statement of its investigation, but if such a report were published, it could not fail to give offence to the mandatory legislature and government. His second objection was mat as mandatory powers were not represented on either the Council or the Mandates Commission, their delegates to the Assembly should have tiie right to require that opinions and objections of the Mandates Commission should ho reported to the Assembly, where the Mandatory powers possessed representation. WILL USB OUR v vVN DISCRETION. Sir F. D. 801 l continued that the right of a Mandatory power whose legislation or administration might lie under consideration, to appeal from adverse comment, should be definitely established. "The mere right of audience is wholly insufficient. We require to govern and must govern to the best of our ability. We require to legislate and must legislate in accordance with the careful exercise of our own discretion.”