MINISTER IN ENGLAND?

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 243, 2 July 1918, Page 6

MINISTER IN ENGLAND?

MR. MYERS SUPPORTS SCHEME.

As the news of tho past day or two has ?hown, developments in connection with the newly-established Imperial Gibinet are proceeding apace, Mr", llassey having stated in London that in his opinion the probabilities are that arrangements will be made to have .resident Ministers in the great metropolis, Bitting as members of the Imperial Cabinet. In view of this statement by tho Prime Minister, it is interesting to recall tho fact that in ,1912 and 191.3 attention was called by tho Hon, Arthur' Myers (then sitting as a member of the Opposition in the flquse of .Representatives) to the need that existed for direct and continuous representation by tho Dominion on the Imperial Defence Committee in London. In speaking on this .question at that time, Mr. Myers stated that as there was an earnest disposition on tho part of the self-governing dominions to. help to maintain tho existence ot the Empire by assisting in its com•inon defence, tho innovation suggested, af put into operation, would bo a step in the right direction and would ultimately prove itself to be of some influence m the consolidation of our Umpire. _ Referring to the subject yesterday, Mr. ilyerrf said thfit on each occasion ho bad returned from the Home Country. during a series of visits, he (like others) came 'back with one outstanding impression, and that was. the necessity to think ami act 'imperially, and that the# time was fast approaching when it would bo incumbent upon the Dominion to send Home a representative of the Government to v attend some kind of council or convention, so that the New Zealand Parliament might remain in constant personal touch with the Imperial Government for the purpose of discussing Empire problems and responsibilities, which continue to grow in importance and urgency with each passing year.

At the time Mr. Myers first made the suggestion referred to, he pointed out that whilst New Zealand's Teraoteness from London might place it at some disadvantage in :l scheme of such a nature, tha problem could be solved by the appointment of a new honorary' Minister, to bo elected by mombers of the House of Representatives, and to lie known as the Minister of External A (fairs, and who could act .as an alternato ■with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence in attending eit'.ings of the Imperial Defence Committee; London. Such a Minister would lie expected to stand aloof from internal nnd domestic problems, and might bo nllowcd to address both Houses, voting. however, only in the Houso tc which he was attached.

. To all who haw closely studied aDd ere deeply' interested in the growth of the consolidation of our Empire, tho statements made by the Prime Minister in regard to direct and continuous Min'istorial representation in the Imperial Cabinet mark a definite step forward in the evolution of Empire relationships.