PACIFIC DEFENCES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19886, 13 March 1939, Page 5

PACIFIC DEFENCES

,*. COMING TALKS DOMINION ASSEMBLY VISITING DELEGATES BRITISH AND AUSTRALIAN DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. 'The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J.-Savage, announced to-day that as a result of a suggestion put forward about the middle of last year by His Majesty's ■Government in New Zealand, which basi since been under discussion between -the Governments concerned,' arrangements have now been completed for a meeting in. New Zealand in the near future of a conference between representatives of the Governments of the United Kingdom, of !the Commonwealth of Australia and of New Zealand to consider pacific questions of common concern, with ■ special reference to defence questions. ;The- United Kingdom representatives will be the High Commissioner in New Zealand -for His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, Sir Harry Batterbee, the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, and the Australian representatives will be ViceAdmiral Sir Regnar Colvin (firs, naval member) and senior officers ot the Australian army and air forces. The names of the New Zealand representatives will be announced later. CANBERRA RESERVATION QUESTIONS OP POLICY i NO BINDING DECISIONS (Elec. Tel. Copyright —United Press Assn.) (Reed. (March 13, 9 a.m.) CANBERRA, March 12. The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. J. A. Lyons, said to-day that as a result of a suggestion made last year by the iNew Zealand Government arrangements had now been completed for a meeting in New Zealand in the near future of representatives of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. The Australian representatives, in addition to Vice-Admiral Sir Regnan Colvin, would be Colonel V. A. H. Sturdee and 'Wing-Commander G. Jones. The discussions of experts, Mr. Lyons added, would not commit the Government in any respect as to questions of policy for either peace or war. These were subjects for determination by the Governments concerned. Questions of policy would be reserved for consideration between the Ministers at Imperial conferences. DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE N.Z. SHOULD BEAR SHARE FARMERS' UNION VIEW (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. At a Farmers' Union meeting at Balclutha on Saturday the following motion, moved by the Hon. F. Waite, M.LC, was carried: "That the New Zealand Farmers' Union approves of the proposed defence conference between representatives of Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand, and strongly urges that New Zealand should take her full share in the Empire defence by the provision of adequate sea, land and air forces."