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to New Zealanders resident in Canada, Air Force dependants, and New Zealanders visiting Canada. The High Commissioner is responsible for tlie general supervision of the activities of all New Zealand Government officers stationed temporarily or permanently in Canada, including the New Zealand Trade Commissioner at Montreal (formerly the New Zealand Supply Mission at Ottawa). Towards the end of the year the Hon. David Wilson indicated his desire to return to New Zealand on the expiry of his term of office, 7th April, 1947, and announcement was made of the appointment of Mr. James Thorn as his successor. OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA Relations between Australia and New Zealand were further developed by the establishment, early in 1943, of a New Zealand High Commissioner's Office in Australia, and the appointment of Sir Carl Berendsen as High Commissioner. For some time it had been realized that better means must be provided for the mutual exchange of information and the frank discussion of defence and foreign policy and that such a development of intra-Commonwealth relations would strengthen the British Commonwealth relationship. The Office played an important part in the success of the Australian - New Zealand Conference of January, 1944, and in the establishment of the Secretariat in accordance with the terms of the Australian - New Zealand Agreement, which resulted in even closer liaison and understanding between New Zealand and Australia. The work of the Secretariat is described under the section dealing with British Commonwealth affairs. On 10th April, 1946, the Right Hon. P. Fraser and the Right Hon. W. Nash arrived in Canberra and devoted a few days as representatives of New Zealand at an inter-governmental Conference with the Australian Government. These discussions comprised a large range of topics of mutual interest to both countries including preparatory talks prior to the Consultations of Commonwealth Prime Ministers and Deputy Prime Ministers in London. At the London talks the United Kingdom agreed to support the proposals made in the Australian - New Zealand Agreement for a Regional Advisory Commission in the South Pacific. Preparatory work in this connection was therefore commenced, the responsibility being undertaken jointly by the Australian and New Zealand Departments of External Affairs. Other matters of external policy which were the subject of consultation between the two Governments at this time included the arrangements for the Far Eastern Commission and the Allied Council for Japan; civil aviation, with particular reference to the formation of British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines; the Anzac Agency of the Imperial War Graves Commission; trusteeship agreements for mandated Territories ; the attitude to American proposals regarding bases in the Pacific ; and immigration proposals. Later in the year many other questions were discussed with the Australian authorities. Exchanges of views took place on the issues raised by the United Nations General Assembly in New York, while other subjects included defence liaison ; the international trade talks ; claims in the Antartic ; BCOF in Japan ; War Crimes ; Japanese whaling ; nationality of married women ; and the Food and Agriculture Organization Conference in Copenhagen. Trans-Pacific civil aviation constituted one of the most important questions, and the Office was closely involved in the South Pacific Air Transport Council's first regular Conference, which was held in Canberra from 18th to 20th December. Further preparatory work was carried out in connection with the Conference to be held for the purpose of establishing an Advisory Commission in the South Pacific. This Conference was held in Canberra from 28th January to 6th February, 1947, and comprised representatives of the United Kingdom, France, United States, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Australian Governments, under the sponsorship of the two latter Governments. The New Zealand delegation, which was led by the Right Hon. Walter Nash, included the High Commissioner, Mr. J. G. Barclay.

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