CLOSER RELATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24793, 18 December 1941, Page 2

CLOSER RELATIONS

NEW ZEALAND AND RUSSIA (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Dec. 17. THe first national conference of the New Zealand Society for Closer Relations with 1 Russia, held in Wellington, was attended by delegates from branches at Auckland, Waikato. Taranaki. Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Dannevirke. Christchurch. Dunedin. Westland and other centres. Mr H. Atmore, M.P., was elected president. while the following were elected as members of the council:—Mrs C. C. S. Stewart, M.P., Mrs J. W. Stables, Messrs W. E. Barnard, M.P., P. Neilson, M.P., A, E. Hefford, C. G. Scrimgeour, H. E. Herring, W. H.. Gould, J. G. Park, F. L. Combs. K. Baxter, A. J. Huggins, the Rev. P. Paris, and others from various centres. The conference decided to approach the Federation of Labour for the purpose of making a substantial donation to the federation’s Russian ambulance appeal and of offering co-operation with the federation in such work. The Wellington division presented a' cheque for £6OO to the National Executive for medical aid to the Soviet. The conference sent cablegrams conveying congratulations and greetings to Major-general Freyberg. M. Maisky (on the performance of the Red Army), Wing Commander Ramsbottom-Isherwood and his co-pilots, and Mrs Winston Churchill on her work for Russian medical aid. In a speech to the conference, Mr Barnard urged the establishment of some form of diplomatic representation of New Zealand in the U.S.S.R., and also ( the sending of a trade mission to Russia, possibly working in co-operation with the projected Australian trade mission or the Eastern Supply Group Council.