TIES WITH BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 233, 29 June 1944, Page 4

TIES WITH BRITAIN

Statute Of Westminster QUESTION OF ADOPTION

The Statute of Westminster, which the Government has announced it proposes to adopt, was discussed by Mr. Bowden, M.P. for Wellington West, in an address iu Northland. He said that there were three questions on which he had sought answers from competent legal friends —Would it mean that New Zealand would become completely independent of Britain? Would its adoption weaken the ties between Britain and New Zealand? Would the right of appeal to the Privy Council be lost? The answer in each case was “No.” Mr. Bowden said that in view of those answers he could see no real grounds for opposing the proposal for ratification. Nevertheless, in the light of fears expressed by eminent men of the past, and on grounds of sentiment, he would prefer the question to be shelved during the war. unless it could be shown that New Zealand would be hampered in respect of any mandates which might be granted later or that the position of her nationals in foreign affairs would be improved thereby. Referring to the Canberra Agreement between Australia and New Zealand, Mr. Bowden said he considered that no objections could be raised to those proposals dealing with mutual help, regional defence, reciprocal trade, migration, nnd shipping. However, those sections dealing with territorial adjustments in the Pacific after the war had caused some disquiet in official circles in the United States and Britain; It was to be hoped that the New Zealand Prime .Minister’s discussions while abroad would clarify the issue and establish as a fundamental principle that it was recognized here and in Australia that no such adjustments could be completed other than in full agreement with Britain and America. It appeared, too, that the ideas regarding air transport, set out in the pact might have to be modified to meet the policy of the Government of Great Britain.