SIMILAR PRIVILEGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26479, 5 June 1947, Page 7

SIMILAR PRIVILEGES

NEW ZEALAND’S INTEREST advantages of dominion p.A WELLINGTON, June 4. The New Zealand Government has been following the recent developments with close attention, particularly those relating to the process by which India is to assume independence. said the Prime Minister Mr Fraser to-day. commenting on the Viceroy’s statement on India. Mr Fraser said he believed the United Kingdom Government was taking the right course in proposing to introduce legislation during the coming session for the transfer of power on the basis of dominion status. ‘‘As a member of the British Commonwealth. New Zealand is naturally and deeply interested in any decision designed to give India or parts or India the same privileges as we ourselves enjoy,” said Mr Fraser. “It is, however, not for us to advise India whether she should remain within the fellowship of the Commonwealth or separate herself from it On behalf of the New Zealand Government, however 1 would like to make it abundantly clear that we in New Zealand would welcome the continuation of our partnership with India on this new basis.” Mr Fraser said the people of the British dominions did not regard dominion status as an imperfect kind of independence. On the contrary, it was independence with something added, not independence with something taken away. It carried with it membership of a free and powerful association from which every element of constraint had vanished, but one in which a way had been found for the practise of mutual confidence and co-operation in full respect for the independence, sovereignty. and individuality of each member The New Zealand Government, in acclaiming the approaching consummation of India’s independence, therefore, expressed the hope that that independence might be exercised within the British Commonwealth of Nations to the greatly increased bene fit of all members of the Commonwealth and of the whole world, and the New Zealand Government assured the people of India in all circumstances of its friendship and goodwill.