SECRET DIPLOMACY.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17695, 20 September 1929, Page 5

SECRET DIPLOMACY.

THE OPTIONAL CLAUSE.

LABOUR MEMBERS PROTEST,

PREMIER'S ABLE REPLY.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 20.

In formally moving an adjournment so as to give an indication that the Labour Party ' was dissatisfied with the Government's silence in connection with New Zealand's attitude towards the optional clause of the Statute for the Court of International Justice, Mr. Holland, leader of the Labour Party, stated in the House yesterday that Australia and New Zealand were the only two portions of. the Empire which had not yet signified adherence and acceptance of the clause. This would not, he agreed, dispose of the Dominion's rights to appeal to the Privy Council on interImperial matters, for such disputes were not likely to involve the Dominions in warfare with each other.

The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward; was unable to carry the subject further for he opened his reply by declaring that Mr. Holland did not appear to realise that all the communications which had come from the Home Government and which had gone from the New Zealand Government on this subject were marked "Secret." Mr. Holland: The people should know everything that is being done. It should not prevent you from explaining your Government's attitude and the instructions sent forward.

"Is that a proper position to put me in?" asked Sir Joseph. "I have taken up a certain attitude Avhich T consider justifiable on the> optional clause," added Sir Joseph, "and while the lion, gentleman has put his views on record, I'm not yet relieved of the responsibility of regarding this matter as secret. The High, Commissioner, who has been representing New Zealand at the League of Nations Assembly, was authorised to sign the optional clause subject to certain reservations, which are the result of consultations with all the representatives of His Majesty's Governments."

The comment of the Leader of the Opposition; the Hon. J. G. Coatee, was that the proper thing had been done. , Labour members carried on the debate at some length as they were of the opinion that the whole subject should have been dealt with by Parliament and that there should be no secret diplomacy.

won with • 307. With good playing conditions the winner and runner-up might probably break 300 at Wanganui.

The Amateurs.

T. H. Horton will be defending his amateur title. The question is being asked: "Can he retain it?" Has the time arrived when one of tre younger players, who have been carving out for themselves names in big golf, are going to set the seal on their game? The position looks very open indeed, and Horton has a great task to repeat. His most formidable opponent "appears to be Morpeth. The favourites for the eyent will probably be Horton, Morpeth, A. G. Sime (Westport) and J. Goss (Wanganui), who will be \ playing on his home course. Goss carried off th» amateur on the last occasion it was played at Wahganui. Among the other Wanganui competitors, particularly J. H. Hussey and J. Harold, there will be men capable of a firstclass game, and armed with the local knowledge, any one of them might spring a surprise. There is always the unknown quantity to add to the interest of golf.

Wellington will be represented at the meeting by A. D. S. Duncan, R. Wagg, H. A. Black and D. O. Whyte. Duncan has a record to his credit, that has never been or is ever likely to be bettered, and although he more often than not comes to light with flashes of his old form, the strain of fighting through to a final appears if it will be the lot of a younger man. The other three Wellington representatives are all first-class players, Wagg and Black having already had considerable championship experienced A. E. Conway, of New Plymouth, F. C Fryer, of Napier, and H. P. Dale, of Eltham, who recently won the Hutt Club's open championship, have given good accounts of themselves in the past. A Mighty Driver.

All competitors will be glad to see the picturesque figure of Kapi Tareha, of Napier, on a championship links once again. Like Morpeth he is a powerful hitter. Both have mighty drives and immense power and punch in their iron shots. « It is problematical whether any player in the land hits the ball such a blow as Kapi. With all going well it is a magnificent sight to see the rhythm and power which are brought to bear. He addresses the ball the embodiment of strength. The club is taken back to the horizontal, the weight of the body bearing on the right foot, a wonderful wrist action flashes on the club with ever-increasing speed on the ball, a grunt is heard, and the ball speeds down the fairway devouring distance.