EMPIRE PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20644, 16 February 1929, Page 10

EMPIRE PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION.

UNITED KINGDOM BRANCH. ANNUAL REPORT. (Fhoji Ode, Own Cobeespondent.) LONDON, December 21. _ The annual report of the Empire Parliamentary Association (U.K. branch) states that the year 1927-28 has seen a considerable extension, of the work of the Empire Parliamentary Association, and, therefore, the rooms allotted to the association in Westminster Hall iave become, in perhaps a closer and more intimate sense than in previous years, the central meeting place of members of all the free Parliaments of the British Commonwealth Visiting members of the overseas Legislatures of the dominions and India have never failed to express their warm appreciation of the privilege of finding accommodation at their disposal in the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster, which they can regard as their parliamentary home during 'their stay in London and which enables them to meet with facility their colleagues in the Parliament of Westminster.

With the inclusion of other Legislatures of the Empire in the work of the association, the number of members visiting the rooms during the year has beep greater than in any previous year, and the extension of the work of the Study Committees dealing with the affairs of the dominions, India, and the colonies has involved more frequent meetings of mi hers and a more constant exchange of ideas between members of all parties in all Parliaments.

The increase in interest in the affairs of the colonies on the part of members and in the active work of the Colonial Affairs Study Committee has of itself involved an increase in the attendance of Home members in the rooms of the association in order both to attend meetings and *to obtain special information on colonial as well as on Dominion and Indian affairs; while at the same time there has been the usual regular attendant of members in order to meet their colle-guis from the dominion Parliaments, both .individually and at committees. DELEGATIONS OVERSEAS.

The visit of parliamentary delegates to C&Deda is dealt with in full in an ap?if nC c ’ The visit, says the report was the first occasion on which representatives of all the Parliaments of the B-itis l Empire had assembled in Canada, am there is no doubt that the opportunities for studying together the resources of the great dominion and for tha confei .-ncos m thp Houses of Parliament at Ottawa and in each of the Parliament Houses of the provinces have been fraught with great advantage throughout the British Commonwealth of Nations. Delegations also visited Nigeria and Tanganyika, These visits are also deReport V6ry fUlly m the Apendix to the

EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION. ~ Study Cojnmittees have continued their valuable work. These committees consist of members of the association in noth Houses of Parliament interested in certain subjects, and explore methods of co-operation between the Upited Kingdom and the dominions and India in direct and personal consultation with Dominion members of Parliament and members of the Indian Legislature who visit London from time to time. An interesting development of the work of this committee is likely to take place with the fprmation in Paris of the Comite Iranco-Bntannique d'Etudes Coloniales. e It h '2? e , d K a r l^ n .Se between members of the Colonial Affairs Study Committee and members of the French Committee (consisting of members of the French Uhamber and eminent publicists who have special knowledge of the French colonies) . ? an informal exchange of views and information upon the affairs and mutual interests of the colonies of France and Great Britain, particularly in the sphere or activities where the two countries are raced with common problems in Africa. Asia, the Pacific, etc. EMPIRE MARKETING BOARD. , Sir Howard d’Egville has arranged with the Empire Marketing Board for copies rl XfP 01 , 4 as . issued to be sent to the United Kingdom branch of the association tor despatch with the Journal of the Parliaments of the Empire to each member of the association in the Dominion and Indian Legislatures. This arrangement arose out of a discussion between Sir Howard d’Egville and members of the association in the JN . e )T Zealand Parliament during his 1926 visit, when members of that Parliament expressed a keen desire for information sn i c fl as , that provided in the publications of the board. The circulation of the publications has been of much value to oversea members and the branch of the association m the .Parliament of the Union of South Africa have expressed their special thanks for this arrangement VISITING NEW ZEALANDERS. New Zealand Parliamentarians who have visited London and who have utilised the facilities and attended the rooms and gatherings of the association during the year are the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Colonel the Hon. W. E. Collins, the Hon. Sir Willi am TT HaI1 ;^ on S s - * he Hon - J- A. Hanan, the iion. Mr Justice Herdman, Mr W. J. Jordan, the Hon. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, the Hon W. Stewart, Mr H. Livingstone T a vhe Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. T. M. Wilford.