EMPIRE PARLIAMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22046, 28 February 1935, Page 12

EMPIRE PARLIAMENTS

CONFERENCE IN LONDON THE DOMINION DELEGATES FOUR REPRESENTATIVES [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The four New Zealand delegates to the conference of the Empire Parliamentary Association in London will bo Mr. Mark Fagan, M.L.C., Mr. W. A. Bodkin, M.P. fpr Central Otago, Mr. 11. G. Dickie, M.P. for Patea, and Mr. P. Fraser, M.P. for Wellington Central. The election of Mr. Fagan to represent the Legislative Council was made last week, and the other appointments were made to-dny. The Coalition Party held a meeting at which Mr. Dickie was selected, and at a meeting of the Labour Party Mr Fraser was chosen.

Keen interest was taken at a later meeting when all members of the General Assembly met to select tho fourth representative. Mr. Bodkin, Mr. H. S. S. Kyle, M.P. for Riccarton, and Mr. A. Harris, M.P. for Waitemata, were nominated, while Mr. F. Lye, M.P: for Waikato, who was also proposed, declined nomination. An elimination ballot resulted in the election of Mr. Bodkin.

It is generally considered in Parliamentary circles that a well-balanced delegation has been chosen. Mr. Fagan, who has been a member of the Legislative Council since 1930, has Labour affiliations. Mr. Bodkin, a former Chairman of Committees, has been in Parliament since 1928, being elected as a supporter of the United Party. Mr. Dickie, who has represented Patea since 1925, is a Reform member and is well versed on questions affecting primary industries, with particular reference to meat, a problem of paramount interest to-day. Mr. Fraser, deputy-leader of the Labour Party, has represented Wellington Central since 1918, and holds the record for the longest Parliamentary service in his party. All four delegates are good speakers. The delegation will leave by the Mataroa on May 24 and tho conference will take place in July. All expenses are being paid by the central organisation in England. It is possible that Mr. C. M. Botharnley. Clerk of Parliaments, and secretary of the New Zealand branch of the association, will travel with the delegation.