PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3774, 13 July 1926, Page 36

PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION

THE EMPIRE BODY. ADDRESS BY SIR F. D. BULL. (From Qttb Own Correspondent.) LONDON, May 21. On Tuesday afternoon, Sir F. D. Bell gave an address on “The External Interests of New Zealand” (with special reference to interests'in the Islands of the Facific,- Cook Islands, the Mandate of Western Samoa, etc.) to a private meeting of the Committee of the Empire Parliamentary Association at the House of Lords. This committee is specially making a study of Empire foreign relations and defence. The Rt. Hon. L. S. Amery (Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs) was in the chair during the first part of the meeting and, on being called away, he was succeeded by Admiral of the Fleet Earl Jellicoe. Sir Francis dealt with the interests ot New Zealand in the Pacific and the part taking by the Dominion in naval defence. He also gave an account of the administration of the islands under the control of the Dominion. He gave facts without expressing any opinions, holding, as he does, the view that it is a most mischievous thing *or Ministers from dominions who happen to be speaking to express opinions which listeners may suppose to be the viewß of their Cabinets. Therefore, he was careful to confine himself to facts only. His address had many interested listeners, who belong to all parties in the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The Hon. T. Mr Wilford, M.P., paid a tribute to the work of the New Zaaland Government in the administration of the Pacific Islands and also to Sir Francis Bell as Minister of External Affairs. On the proposal of Earl Jellicoe, a vote of thanks was unaniomusly passed to Sir Francis BeU.