Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 1937. EMPIRE AFFAIRS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19240, 4 February 1937, Page 4

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 1937. EMPIRE AFFAIRS

'Phe official announcement that New Zealand is to be represented at the Coronation and the subsequent Imperial Conference by the Prime Minister will be welcomed throughout the Dominion. There are some

people, of course, who are always ready to find fault when circumstances demand the attendance overseas of leaders of the Governmentand, incidentally, members of the

piesent Government when in Opposition sometimes came within this category —but such an attitude betokens an ignorance of the fitness and value of things. In the first place, it can be said without hesitation that none other than the l’rime Minister himself could adequately represent the country at the Coronation. The invitations were issued to the heads of the Dominions, and for the head of any Government to delegate the representation' to anyone else, unless under the most exceptional circumstances, would be lacking in respect to the Grown and the Empire. Above all else, the Coronation is an. occasion for demonstrating the loyalty and unity of all parts of the Empire, and for this reason alone it is essential that each Dominion should be represented by the head of the Government. In the second place, it is desirable, -as a matter of general principle, that the Prime Minister of the Dominion should make contact with the statesmen and authorities of other

parts of the Empire. Otherwise there is always the danger of an insularity of viewpoint at a time when a broad outlook and a wide understanding of world affairs are necessary. adjuncts of high office. This will he Mr. Savage’s first visit to London, and it .may bo taken for granted that he will return greatly enriched from the contacts lie will make and, at least, with the knowledge that 'through him New Zealand lias been fittingly represented at the Ooronation ceremonies.

TJie Coronation, however, is, after all, only a ceremony, albeit one of the most important in contemporary Imperial affairs. But associated with it will be a conference, devoid o( ceremonial, in which the statesmen of the Empire will use their collective wisdom in an endeavour to discovei means for improving the relationships between their respective countries and for co-ordinating their policy in international affairs. It is fitting Hint New Zealand should be represented' at' this conference, also, by ts Prime Minister. It is true that ?d r. Nash is already” in England conducting preliminary, investigations and negotiations and few will ques'ion his ability to speak for the Dominion at the conference —it is pos sible, indeed, that lie will still pin' a leading part—but where it may In necessary for vital decisions to b taken it is desirable that, the head oi the Government .should be on the spot Undoubtedly, Mr. Savage will benefi. greatly from the careful exploratory work which Mr. Nash is now under taking and whatever decisions lie will be called upon to reach, instead oi being based on a hasty summarising of the situation, will be founded on the painstaking research of his col league. The agenda for the Imperial Conference has not yet been finally drafted, but it may be assumed that the principal subjects for discussioi will be Empire defence, trade, and migration, in regard to each of which there is a considerable measure or misunderstanding, or lack of understanding in this country, and not the least among supporters of the Govern ment. 'l’he New Zealand delegate? should be able to profit immeasurably from the opinions and advice of the others at the conference, am’ the benefit of their experience wit. subsequently be reaped by the Dominion as -a whole. The whole futurt of the Dominion is governed by work conditions, and, in particular, by its relations with the rest of the Empire, ani for this reason any effort and any expense required to increase tin knowledge of the leaders of the politi cal life of the nation will be more than compensated by the result? which can reasonably be expected.

The departure of the Prime Minister and his absence from the country for five or six months, will in evitably cause some dislocation ii domestic affairs. Mr. Savage appreciates this fact and obviously ha? been reluctant to absent himself at r i iine when he has been so busily on gaged in formulating the legislative programme for the next session of Parliament. It is not the first time ; however that a Minister has beei called upon to sacrifice his personal inclinations to other and more important demands, and Mr. Savage certainly is under no obligation to offei an apology for leaving the country at what he. regards as a critical time Were lie to refrain from attending the Coronation and the Imperial Conference, no apology be could offer woulc suffice. In any case, he is inclined to exaggerate the disabilities tha‘ may be caused by his absence, and it may even prove that the Dominion lias more to gain than lose by the delay in again calling Parliament to gethcr. The community is still striving to adjust itsolf to the orgy oi legislation that was passed during the last, session and it will not in aimway resent an extension of the breathing space that has been permitted it. Moreover, it is possible that the trend of legislation will be consTilorably influenced as a result of the Prime Minister’s deliberations ii London, particularly as it affects relations with other parts of the Empire, and it is a safe assumption that whatever legislation is subsequently introduced will be'the sounder for Mr. Savage’s experience? overseas. In the meantime, the Prime Minister has a loyal band of colleagues who will carry on in his- absence, and be can take his departure reassured in this respect and with the firm knowledge that he takes with him on bis mission the -good wishes of the people whom he is to represent at historic ceremonies and an important conference.