CHANGE OF POSTS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 195, 16 May 1944, Page 4

CHANGE OF POSTS

Canberra To Washington After serving at Canberra for 14 months as High Commissioner for New Zealand in Australia, Mr. C. A. Berendsen has returned to the Dominion for a short period before leaving for the United States to take up liis new appointment of New Zealand Minister to Washington. Mr. Berendsen, accompanied by Mrs. Berendsen, arrived in Wellington at the weekend. Mr. Berendsen said yesterday tnat his stay in Canberra had been very happy. It had been easy to represent in Australia the NiZ. in Anzac, the traditions of which were very much alive in the Commonwealth. “There is great interest in Australia,” continued Mr. Berendsen, “in what we are doing here, particularly in regard to the war effort, and also in regard to the Maoris. Wherever one went people' wanted to know about the Maoris.” Australia was very tightly braced for the continuance of the war effort. There was a great desire in Australia to cooperate with New Zealand. “I found them anxious to help in every wny they can,” said Mr. Berendsen, “and that has been greatly facilitated by the primary achievement of the Australia-New Zealand Agreement. The secretariat established under that pact is working admirably. It serves two functions. The first is as a means of facilitating our inquiries and investigations. On the other side, they keep a bright eye open on things which might conceivably be of interest in ipew Zealand.” Dr. Evntt, the Australian Minister of External Affairs, had been everything that was kind and helpful in working cjosely with New Zealand. Nr. Berendsen said he was looking for ward with interest to taking up his new post in Washington, where he will succeed Mr. Nash, who is returning to the Dominion.