COLONIAL OFFICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19505, 13 June 1925, Page 11

COLONIAL OFFICE

REORGANISATION PLAN. NATIONHOOD OF DOMINIONS. OFFICIAL RECOGNITION. NEW SECRETARY SHIPS. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright, LONDON, June 11. (Received June 12, at 5.5 p.m.) In the House of Commons Mr Baldwin, announcing the reorganisation of the Colonial Office, said that the Government had concluded that the existing organisation of the Colonial Office was no longer in correspondence with the actual constitutional position of the Empire, and was inadequate, to cope with the variety of work thrown upon it. It fell short more particularly in distinguishing between tire work of consultation and cooperation •with the dominions and the administrative work of the protectorates. It was proposed, therefore, that the conduct of the dominions’ affairs should be under a new Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, with his own Parliamentary Undor-Secretary, who would also act as chairman of the Overseas Settlement Committee, which would also ha,ve its own permanent Under-Secretary. For the sake of convenience the new secretaryship would continue to he vested in Mr Amery and be housed in the Colonial Office, Replying to Mr MacDonald, who asked whether the dominions had agreed to the change, Mr Baldwin said the Government had been communicating with them throughout. He hoped that the matter would be discussed on tho Colonial Office vote.—Reuter. OPINION IN THE LOBBIES. THE CHANGE APPROVED, NEW OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS. LONDON, June 11. (Received June 12, at 5,5 p.m.) All types of lobby opinion approve the new status of the Dominion Department. The net effect of the change is that a new Parliamentary Under-Secretaryship and a Permanent Under-Secretaryship will bo created. As Mr Amery’s salary will be unchanged the new department will not cost more than an extra £SOOO. The new dominions’ Under-Secretary will sit in the House of Lords. Apart from the Earl of Clarendon the names of tho Marquis of Linlithgow and tho Earl of Onslow are mentioned. The last-named has been recently answering Colonial Office questions in the House of Lords. Sir James Masterroan-Smith, the present Permanent Secretary, has been ill and will shortly resign. Two new Permanent Secretaries will then be appointed. The Australian Press Association understands that Mr L. C. Amory (Colonial Secretary) will concentrate on dominion affairs, and Mr Ormesby-Gore will take over colonial matters. Lord Clarendon is being freely mentioned a* the new Parliamentary Under-Secretary, who ia expected to become the chairman of the Overseas Settlement Committee. Sir Joseph Cook (the Australian High Commissioner) states that any proposal which recognises that tho dominions aro grown-up nations is a step in the right direction. Sir James Allen also approves tho change.—A. and N.Z. Cable. NEWSPAPER COMMENT, MR AMERY’S NEW TITLE. SECRETARY OF STATE lOR DOMINIONS. LONDON, Juno 11. (Received June 12, at 6.6 p.m.) The Dailv Chronicle’s political correspondent states that though Mr Amery’s title will actually be Secretary of State for the Dominions and for the Colonies ho will popularly bo known as Secretary of State for the Dominions, and will devote the major part of his time to dominion affairs. The Morning Post editorially remarks that tjie departure is an acknowledgment that the old feeling of dependence, which wsa justly resented by the dominions, has now no justification whatever. It should facilitate co-operative measures for reducing expense and giving further expression and greater weight to the unity of the Empire and its common determination. The editorial concludes; "We hope that Mr Amery will be able regularly to visit the dominions.” ’ The Daily Herald says that from the workers’ viewpoint the new Dominions’ Department is long overdue. The dominions are no longer children to be kept in a nursery. The recognition of the independent nationhood of Canada, Australia and New Zealand is belated. They have always felt that the Colonial Office was the wrong name.' “Whether it is wise to leave the new office in Mr Amery’s hands is another matter,” the Herald continues. “He docs not even understand the dominion viewpoint and still believes that the Empire is held together by ‘reeking tube and iron shard,’ and talks old-fashioned stuff about a strong navy. Dominion statesmen regard Mr Amery as 50 years behind the times. India must also be given dominion status as soon as possible, making the India Office a memory of an unhappy past.” The Daily Express says; ‘The announcement will inspire the great selfgoverning nations with faith and new hope. They have long ago attained the full status and stature of nationhood. The Colonial Office has been for over a generation a grotesquely inaccurate misnomer. The dominions will naturally expect the new department to be animated by energy and initiative. Tire lessons to be learned from its inauguration are plain. The House of Commons ought to give the problem of perference a new orientation. Politicians should rise to new heights and strive with all their might to lift Imperial preference from; the ancient ruts of party politics. The Labour Party is showing a healthy interest in tho economics of Empire. It is possible that Labour may shake itself free from the shackles of obsolete laisser fairo and stretch out a helpring hand to the great sisterhood of nations which is the ripest expression of democracy.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT. THE PROPOSALS COMMENDED, (From Cub Own Cohubspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 12. Speaking of the changes in the Colonial Office, the Prime Minister said this evening: “Tho New Zealand Government has received the statement made by the Secretary of State for the Colonies with much satisfaction. Tho propwsals represent an earnest desire on tho part of his Majesty’s Government to recognise tho status and sentiment of tho oversea dominions. The name of the Colonial Office lias long since grown out of date as being appropriate for Groat Britain’s self-governing dominions, and on this account the new designation of the Secretary of State for dominion affairs ia to be warmly -commended. The p>ru- - posed organisation will tend greatly to facilitate tho increasing volume of communication on foreign policy, the work of oversea settlement and, I hop>e, will enable British Ministers to have greater opportunity of personal intercourse and