The Daily News THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1932. THE OTTAWA DELEGATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1932, Page 4

The Daily News THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1932. THE OTTAWA DELEGATION.

The announcement of the Prime Minister’s decision to withdraw from the New-Zealand delegation to Ottawa will have been received with both regret and satisfaction. The knowledge that Mr. Forbes is to remain at his pOst throughout the difficult winter which everyone recognises as inevitable will cheer many people. He has the qualities of fortitude and perseverance, qualities that are essential to successful leadership in the present condition of the Dominion’s affairs, and most people will candidly admit that they will feel more comfortable with Mr. Forbes at the helm than they would if he were out of the country. But for the same reason everyone must regret his inability to go to the Empire Economic Conference. His original decision to be the Dominion’s principal representative was due, of course, to his realisation of the importance of the gathering. He felt, as every serious thinker did, that the possibilities of the conference were so momentous as to demand the personal attention of the heads of all the British Governments, for they would be in a position to make decisions on the spot and pledge the peoples for whom they spoke. This country certainly would have been quite willing to entrust its interests to the sturdy commonsense which Mr. Forbes has displayed in dealing with Imperial affairs, and it is equally ready to accept his judgment when he says the correct course for him to pursue is to remain in New Zealand. From the personal point of view he is, of course, making a considerable, sacrifice. The work at Ottawa will be strenuous, but the journey to and fro would Have afforded him some degree of leisure, and the meeting with other leaders of the Empire would have been a stimulating and pleasant experience. To give it up means real self-denial on the part of the Prime Minister, who thus earns the gratitude of his fellow country men. The effect of his abstention is to open again the whole question of the Dominion’s representation at the conference. It is suggested that Mr. Coates, who is said to have been very reluctant indeed to join the delegation, will now wish to withdraw, though the Prime Minister has expressed the utmost confidence in the ability of Mr. Coates and the Minister of Finance to perform the task which he intended to share with them. Mr. Coates, it is reported, has the same feeling as Mr. Forbes, namely, that there is plenty of work for him to do in the Dominion. Whatever his personal predilections may be, it cannot be suggested that Mr. Coates has any desire to shirk hard work. He undertook the most difficult job open to him when he became Minister of Employment, he has not spared himself in his efforts to solve the great problems which confront him, and if he believes that his official duties require him to remain in the Dominion it is because his heart is in his work and he is keen to obtain results. It is a compliment to him and an evidence of the good feeling existing in the Cabinet that Mr. Forbes wishes his colleague to go abroad, though it may be presumed that the Prime Minister would be equally glad to have Mr. Coates at his right hand during the next few months. Fortunately there is no strong reason why they should not both remain in the Dominion and also arrange for thoroughly adequate representation at Ottawa. The Ministerial leaders would themselves be the first to recognise Mr. Downie Stewart’s exceptional qualifications for the leadership of the delegation. The Dominion could not ask for a better representative than Mr. Stewart, for he is not likely to be prejudiced on behalf of any particular intei-est, having held the portfolios

of Customs and of Industry and Commerce he should not be lacking in practical knowledge, and he knows more about finance and currency, which will be important questions at the conference, than any of his colleagues. It would not be fair, however, to expect the Minister of Finance to go to Ottawa without a colleague of equal rank, and the Cabinet fortunately contains a Minister whose record indicates clearly his ability to. fill the role. This is Mr. R. Masters, wiio out of the fund ot his long experience could supply the practical outlook required to .supplement Mr. Stewart’s scholarly grasp of principles. Mr. Masters, of course, is administering one. particularly important department, that of Education, in which considerable changes have recently been made, but the modified system seems to be working so smoothly that he could probably be spared for a few months. That he would team well with Mr. Stewart may safely be assumed, for both are hard workers and understand as fully as anyone in the public life of this country does the nature and effect of the conditions which the Ottawa Conference has to meet. IE Mr. Coates is anxious to continue his present work the Government would be ■wise to sanction his withdrawal from the delegation and to place the responsibility upon the shoulders of Ji[r. Stewart an. Mr. Masters. The Dominion could accept them as thoroughly worthy representatives.

WISER COUNSELS PREVAIL. The decision of the Irish Free State to open negotiations with Great Britain in regard to the treaty under which it enjoys its Dominion Constitution is all to the good. There is all the difference in the world between suggesting to trie other party to an agreement that its amendment is desirable and informing him that it will no longer be honouie . The invitation to Dublin has been accepted in goodwill, and the choice ® Ministers to represent Great Britain s an indication that requests for amen - inents of the treaty will be receiver wi all respect. The delegates are the secretary for the Dominions, Mi. • Thomas, and the Secretary for- Mai, Lord Hailsham. Mr. Thomas has eained a good reputation for tact and discretion iu negotiations with self-governing portions of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and as an ex-Labour Minister should be able to assess at its real value the attitude of the Irish Labour Partj, upon whose support in Parltamen i Free State Ministry is obliged to rely. Lord Hailsham is an ex-Lord Chancellor, whose knowledge of treaty laws and a that they imply should be of the utmost service and should prevent any future “misunderstandings and misconceptions,” of which the Irish President, Mr. de Valera, has complained so bitterly. The British Cabinet has spoken very definitely upon the position taken by Great Britain, but has done so with a restraint which should make the Dublin negotiations the easier to bring to a successful conclusion. It is to be hoped that a way out of the troubles will be found, and that the ghosts of past misrule and misunderstanding will be finally disposed of. It is also to be hoped that Great Britain and the Irish Free State are to be partners in the conference at Ottawa next month. That would be almost impossible unless a Spirit of mutual confidence could be created, while the success of the conference would be greatly prejudiced were certain of its members “not on speaking terms.” Personal discussion can often minimise difficulties that correspondence seems only to increase. The Irish Government appears to have realised this, and has taken the first step towards a better understanding.