Common Ground

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22248, 18 January 1944, Page 3

Common Ground

CANBERRA MEETING WAR AND PEACE POLICY PROBLEMS OF PACIFIC (Special Australian Correspondent) CANBERRA, Jan. 17 Complete agreement on 75 per cent of the matters brought forward for discussion by the Australian and New Zealand Ministerial delegations now conferring in Canberra is announced by the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser. The remaining matters, he said, were capable of agreement with very slight adjustment. The conference began today. Following a brief opening session the New Zealand Ministers were the guests of the Commonwealth Government at an official luncheon. Later they attended a meeting of the Australian War Cabinet while the advisory experts of both delegations redrafted the conference agenda to eliminate matters of agreement on which immediate concerted action could be taken. No indication has yet been given of these points of complete agreement, but the main items in the agenda were armistice arrangements, security arrangements, provision for interim and long-term administration of island territories, aviation, immigration and the welfare of native peoples. Close Kinship In their opening addresses to the conference, the Prim# Minister of Australia, Mr J. Curtin, who is presiding, and Mr Fraser emphasized the close kinship of Australians and New Zealanders, and the essential community of interest between the two countries.

“I can promise,” said Mr Fraser, “that New Zealand will do everything in its power to act in even closer unison with Australia as a result of these talks, and that we will do so in the warm spirit of co-op-eration and friendship that has always marked our relationship.” New Zealand, like Australia, was being called on to play an increasingly active part in the world, and more especially in Pacific affairs. The objective of the conference was to define common problems and lay -down agreed principles of permanent co-operation. With the recent statements by Mr Curtin and Dr. Evatt on Imperial and international relationships, the New Zealand Government was in general agreement, said Mr Fraser. He added: “We would like to see machinery for British Commonwealth co-operation improved, and we look forward also to the institution of an effective and universal international organisation, either on the basis of a reorganised League of Nations or some body similarly constituted and empowered to preserve the peace of the world.” Colonial Trusteeship New Zealand was prepared to discuss at the forthcoming Empire Prime Ministers’ Conference in London the question of colonial trusteeship and of an advisory regional commission for colonial and native administration. The delegates wish to discuss these matters with Australia. “It is our desire,” added Mr Fraser, “to bring about an even closer between the British, Australian and New Zealand administrations in the Pacific Islands, covering such matters as centralised medical service, education, public works, aerodrome maintenance, telecommunications, meteorological services and trade. “We also wish to discuss with the Commonwealth and United Kingdom authorities in the first instance, and with other Pacific nations eventually, the institution of an effective collective defence system in this region. International civil aviation in the Pacific represents a special problem to which this conference must give attention.” i | ! ; ! ■ ! | I | | i j ! l