SELECTION DEFERRED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2756, 27 April 1916, Page 6

SELECTION DEFERRED

PARLIAMENTARIANS TO VISIT

ENGLAND

OBJECTS OF THE TRIP

A meeting of tho executive of tho New Zealand branch of tho Empire Parliamentary- Association was held yesterday to select the four members to represent Now Zealand at ,the .conference to bo held in England during this year. The committee decided, however, that .in view of the near approach of die meeting of Parliament, the selection ought to bo deferred in order that a general meeting of' New Zealand members of the association might choose the New Zealand representatives. Accordingly a general meeting is to be convened for the 'morning of May 9, tho day on which Parliament meets. •

A suggestion has been mado that possibly no members might be sent from Nuw Zealand. There is no doubt, however, that ia delegation will be sent.. Some time ago' a cablegram was sent from the New, Zealand branch accepting the invitation of tho British association. ■ In all, 21 members' —five belonging td the Upper House and 19 to itho House of Representatives—have Signified their willingness to go. None of the Ministers aro included in theso numbers, and no Minister will bo chosen. One of the disadvantages of tho delay in making the selection is that the members to represent Now Zealand will have verj; short notice before they will require to sail. They must be Home on July 1.

The following letter, received by the secretary of the New Zealand branch (Mr. A. S. Malcolm) from the secretary of the British association, gives a fairly completo survey of the objects of tho visit:—

"I have.to-day (March 14, 191G) dispatched to you tiie following cablegram —'Empire' Parliamentary Association invite Now Zealand branch choose four members Parliament visit London for month see war organisation and oxchange opinions informally with fellow-members. Hotel accommodation and travel facilities this side provided. As strictly-business visit, regret cannot invite ladies.' , "The decision to send this invitation was readied at. a meeting of the executive committee of this branch held at the House of Commons on .Wednesday, March 8, and, though I expect to have a cablegram iVom you long, before this arrives, I think it well to set out the underlying idea of the proposed; visit. "It occurred to several members of our association (including Lord Milner, Lord Bryce, Mr. ISteel-Maitland, Capt. L. 8. Amery, Mr. Hayes Fisher,' Mi-. Cccilßeclc, Lord Burnham, and Lord Sydenham), after consultation with Colonel J. W. Barrett, C.M.G*, of Melbourne, and myself, that if it was important for Russian and French members of Parliament to visit this country, and see something of the efforts that are being made in the progress of the war, and to exchange viewc with British members of Parliament, it was still more important for msmbors of tiie DominioiKParliaments to visit this side and see for themselves the war organisation here, and exchange opinions informally with their brother mciabcrel of. Parliament upon various prbbloms arising out of the war.- •-,-■

"I may say at once that the whole notion of tlid visit is that it should be of a- strictly business character, and the idea would bo to thoroughly inform visiting members upon some of the war problems and war organisation. In the latter connection, we would hope to arrange visits to munition factories, Portsmouth, Aldershot, and other mili-. tary training centres,'aircraft, factories, etc. Possibly, also, a portion of the delegation might proceeel to France to see something of the organisation there, while, if the situation admits, we should hope that another portion might pay avisit .to the ; Grand Fleet. Naturally, however, no indication can be given at the moment with regard to the last two visits, as the naval and military situations'may be entirely altered by July. "I hope it will be made clear to members of your' branch.that.'this visit will in no senso be a 'picnic,' and the ordinary banquets, or similar junketing, will bo entirely out of place. While arranging opportunities for the exchange of views, we do not propfisc to liavpmoro than one or two functions for the delivery of speeches. • -."■.. "The proposal, as outlined, in the ca-blo, has the sympathetic approval, of Mr-.-Balfour, our chairman; Mr. Bonar, Law, Colonial Secretary; and Mr., Harcourt, ex-Colonial Secretary. With regard to choosing the members, this mattor, of course, must rest with your executive, in consultation, no doubt, with your presidents. . Yours, etc. (signed), Howard d'Egvillo, hon. sec."