VISIT TO LONDON?

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21409, 27 February 1935, Page 10

VISIT TO LONDON?

* MR COATES'S DILEMMA MEAT TRADE DISCUSSIONS [From'Our Parliamentary Reporter.! WELLINGTON, February 26. The opinion that the Minister for Finance, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, should proceed to London if any formal conference on the meal trade takes place is being emphatically expressed by those in close touch with likely developments. It is believed that the Meat Board, too. holds that view. It is likely that a definite decision will be made st,on. II is admitted that from a domestic point of view it is not desirable that both Mr Forbes and Mr Coates should be away from New Zealand at the same time, but the point has also been urged that the meat problem tc be faced is fraught with grave issues, and that Mr Coates, through his Ottawa experience, and the close touch he has always kept with the negotiations, is the best qualified Minister to represent New Zealand at an Empire conference on the subject. Mr Coates is. anxious to ensure by his presence ni New Zealand that the mort.j.'aue corporation scheme is successfully launched, an': that is one reason in particular which makes him reluctant to leave New Zealand. One partial 'Mutio'i of a difficult situation has been suggested, aid it is believed that Mr Contes is giving it some thought; that is. that if it is deemed necessary for him to visit London shortly, he should make as much use as possible of air transport, shortening the oeriod of hi? absence. The visit of a New Zealand delegation to London was referred to in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr A. J. Stall worthy (Ind., Eden), who asked the Prime Minister to give the House a full opportunity of discussing its personnel and purpose. This was, he said, a constitutional right on which the House might reasonably insist.