MR LANGSTONE RESIGNS

Evening Star, Issue 24326, 15 October 1942, Page 4

MR LANGSTONE RESIGNS

HIGH COMMISSIONERS POST IN CANADA MR FRASER ACCUSED CF BREAKING PROMISE OTTAWA, October 13. The Hon. F. Langs tone has resigned his position as High Commissioner for New Zealand in Canada. He said lie had done so because of differences with tho Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser. Mr Langstono, who expects to return to New Zealand this month, complained that, although definite arrangements had been made for his appointment as Minister to the United States, Mr Fraser, without an explanation, had appointed Mr Nash instead. Mr Langstoue said that when ho had asked Mr'Fraser for an explanation at Ottawa on September 5. Mr Fraser had incorrectly contended that the Washington offer was conditional upon whether Mr Nash was able to go to Washington or not. Mr Langstoue

added: “I refreshed Mr Fraser’s memory that this was not so, and in view of what took place I have resigned the High Comjnissionership, and when I return to New Zealand I will resign as a Minister in Mr Fraser’s Government.” Mr Langstone said he strongly resented any form of false pretence, double-crossing, or untrue statements, or being treated like a schoolboy, even by the Prime Minister, particularly while he was a member of Parliament and a Minister of the Crown. [Mr Langstone was appointed High Commissioner in Canada in April hast. As Minister of External Affairs he accompanied Mr J. G. Coates to Washington on a defence mission in May, 1941. When Mr Coates returned to New Zealand Mr Langstone remained in the United States to look after the Dominion’s interests. An exchange of Ministers had been arranged by the United States and New Zealand Governments during the year, but it was not \until after considerable delay that the agreement was implemented. In December the appointment of Mr Nash as the .first New Zealand Minister at Washington was announced, and after his arrival in the United -States early this year Mr Langstone went to Canada to take up the appointment of the first New Zealand High Commissioner at Ottawa.]