DOMINIONS SECRETARY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 278, 26 November 1935, Page 7

DOMINIONS SECRETARY

MR. MALCOLM MACDONALD STATEMENTS IN INTERVIEW LONDON, Nov. 23. The Associated Press interviewed Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, the youngest holder of the Dominions Secretaryship. He expressed gratitude to the New Zealand and Australian Governments for the excellent arrangements they made for his tour last year, enabling him to see in a comparatively short time a tremendous amount of country and obtain a glimpse of the great variety of Dominion problems, which would be a great advantage to him in the future. “I look forward to doing anything I can in. co-operation with the leaders of the Dominion to deal successfully with, many matters of mutual concern.” Mr. MacDonald declined to discuss cither the Imperial Conference or the Imperial air mail scheme, pending again familiarising himself with the position of the department, where he begins duty on Monday. However, it is regarded as certain that he must soon inaugurate preliminary discussions regarding the'Ottawa agreements and the Conference arrangements. His Parliamentary future is still uncertain. While there is no constitutional bar to his remaining temporarily in Cabinet without a seat in the House, the position must soon l>e regularised. Meanwhile Lord Stanley will deal with Dominions’ questions m the House of Commons. The Times says that Mr. Baldwin s selection of Mr. Malcolm MacDonald for the new office at this time is a Utting rebuke to the ill-natured critics, who during the election campaign insinuated that Mr. Malcolm * lacDon ' aid’s first promotion to Cabinet really his father’s act. The Telegraph, which regards the exchange of secretaryship asi surpming says: “It is hinted that Mr. Mac Donald’s transfer implies a renewal of the attempt to reach an Irish set.lement when the opportunity is lavcurable.”