NEEDED AT HOME

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1932, Page 4

NEEDED AT HOME

MR. FORBES .WITHDRAWS DELEGATION FOR OTTAWA MR. COATES MAY NOT GO PRIME MINISTER’S DECISION CONFIDENCE IN COLLEAGUES By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, will not go to th* Ottawa Conference. He has decided that the position in New Zealand demands his personal attention. It is also possible that the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates will withdraw. An announcement in this regard will be made next week. “I have from time to time indicated in public pronouncements my view of the extreme importance of the Ottawa conference, not only to the British Commonwealth as a whole, but also to New Zealand individually,” said Mr. Forbes, “and, holding this view, I have consistently felt that New Zealand should be represented at Ottawa by the strongest possible delegation. It was for this reason, and this reason only, that I considered—and my colleagues agreed with me —that the delegation should be headed by the Prime Minister. In making that decision the Government had in no way lost sight of the serious and urgent problems with which New’ Zea- ' land is confronted, but these problems have since given every indication of increasing in gravity and complexity.” “I have given most earnest thought to the position and have come to the conclusion that in the existing circum- , stances the Prime Minister of the • Dominion should properly remain in ’ New Zealand. I have therefore decided that notwithstanding the importance of . the Ottawa deliberations the correct course for me to pursue is to withdraw ■ from the delegation. The representa- ' fives of New Zealand will accordingly be Mr. Coates and Mr. Stewart. I have the utmost confidence in their ability to perform the task that lies in front of them, and I am convinced the inter- • csts of New Zealand will be best jerved by the arrangement now made.” A later message says it is now considered unlikely that Mr. Coates will o-o to Ottawa, although no announcement to this effect has been made. It is recalled that Mr. Coates earlier was reluctant to leave the Dominion and yielded only to the pressure of the primary producers in allowing his nomi- > nation. As the country’s problems, es- ’ pecially in relation to unemployment, are likely to be intensified it is con- ’ sidered Mr. Coates will ask to be *l- - lowed to remain in New Zealand. An • announcement concerning this is expected next week.