CANBERRA VISIT

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22244, 13 January 1944, Page 2

CANBERRA VISIT

COMIISQ DISCUSSIONS NEW ZEALAND DELEGATION AUCKLAND, Thursday The conference between representatives of the Commonwealth and New Zealand Governments, to be held in Canberra next week, was referred to yesterday by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, on arrival in Auckland as head of the New Zealand delegation. Mr Fraser said the gathering would be attended by the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, and other Federal Ministers, and New Zealand would have two Ministers in attendance besides himself, the Minister of Defence and Civil Aviation, the Hon. F. Jones, and the Postmaster-General and the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb. The common interests and problems of both countries would be considered, together with their future policies, particularly in relation to their position in the South and South-west Pacific regions, he said. As members of the British Commonwealth, both Australia and New Zealand had heavy responsibilities in the Pacific, and it would be useful to discuss each other’s viewpoint. Scope of Agenda Mr Fraser said the agenda prepared for the conference was wide in its scope. It included subjects such as post-war security zones, the welfare of native peoples, administration of island te ritories, communications and provision of means for closer co-operation and collaboration between New Zealand and Australia. Mr Fraser again expressed a belief that there v/as no likelihood of any difficulty or differences arising among Pacific Colonial Powers or the United Nations as to full acceptance of the principle of trusteeship v/hich had in fact formed the basis of British Colonial policy, and certainly of New Zealand’s policy in relation to the Pacific peoples under her own control for many years. There was everything to be said for mutual agreement on the security question when it came to the form under which the principle of trusteeship and security might be guaranteed. Other countries no doubt were keeping open minds the same as New Zealand. Members of Delegation The personnel of New Zealand's delegation to Canberra is:—Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs and Island Territories, Mr Fraser; Postmaster-General and Minister of Labour, Mr Webb; Minister of Defence and Civil Aviation, Mr Jones; Secretary of Treasury, Mr B. C. Ashwyn; Secretary of External Affairs, Mr A. D. Mclntosh; member of Prime Minister’s Department and formerly New Zealand representative in French Oceania, Mr R. T. G. Patrick; Deputy-Chief of Air Staff, Air-Commodore A. de T. Nevill, C.B.E. Mr C. A. Berendsen, formerly head of the Prime Minister’s Department and now High Commissioner for New Zealand in Australia, will join the delegation on its arrival in Sydney. Mrs Fraser will accompany the Prime Minister. The party will also include Miss K. G. Jordon as private secretary to Mr Frasgr.