WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1932, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

OTTAWA FIRST.

BOtH COALITION LEADERS TO ATTEND.

(From a Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, -May 31

Though it was generally expected that burn Air Forbes and Air Coates would be members of the New Zealand Delegation at the Empire Economic Conference’ at Ottawa in July next, the official announcement of the ,lac;t has occasioned a good deal more or le>.s scathing comment. “We have no desire to exaggerate the difficulties, or to suggest fciiafc there .age other, good men in the. Cabinet,” says the “Evening Post” in reviewing the situation to the length of a .column and a-lialf; “but we should bo failing our duty if we concealed our deep regret that these conditions, Air Ecrbes and Mr Coated should have elected to leave their posts together for three or four months, and our hope that some excuse may yet be found for changing the decision.” The morning paper is little more restrained Oil the subject anxiety to do justed On the subject than is its contemporary, but it observes that the Government ill its evident anxiety to <lb justice.to the occasion has rather overdone its appreciation,

A PRECEDENT.

It will be remembered, by folk who keep count of such things, that when Mr Massey went Home to attend the Peace Conference in Paris in 1919 he was accompanied by Sir Joseph Ward, tlie leader cf the Liberal-Labour Opposition of the time which had committed itself to the National Cabinet for the period of the war. Now, presumably, Air Forbes is playing the role of Mr Massey, and Mr Coates that of Sir Joseph Ward, with the difference, perhaps, that the National Cabinet was more solidly consolidated than is the present Coalition Cabinet. It is not history, but it is a fact which can be mentioned, now that the two principals concerned have passed away, that on reaching Paris Sir Joseph found, himself attached to no division of tile peace procedings and would have returned to New Zealand forthwith but for the tact and chivalry of Mr Massey. The incident may be worth recalling at the present time as an indication of the difficulties which beset J such delicate undertakings as Mr Forbes and his companions are facing.

SOME CRITICS.

A majority of the metropolitan newspapers, other than the local publication, are distinctly opposed to tlie magnitude of the New Zealand delegation. Tlie“ “-‘New Zealand Herald’’, (Auckland) put this magnitude dowtl to the consequences of the' ''Coalition —“an effort to keep balance between the parties, both at Ottawa Hud at home." This it thinks good for Ottawa but very bad for New Zealand. “The country,” says the “Auckland Star,” will be astonished and even shocked that three Ministers are to go to Ottawa. Even in a time of rampant prosperity and economic calm this would he extravagant.” “The Dominion,” protests the “Christchurch 1 Times,” “surely could have been adequately represented without taking the leading three members of Cabinet away at go difficult a time.” ”lt was obvious that Mr F orbes and Mr Downio Stewart, if available, should be members of the delegation,” admits the “Otago Times,” “but ns Minister of Employment Mr Contes never should have absented himself from the Dominion.” And s° on and so on to many pages of protest. 1

OUTSIDERS

Jn its criticism of the magnitude of the New Zealand delegation the “New Zealand Herald,” quite naturally asks "'by three Ministers should be required to represent New Zealand at Ottawa while only two are required for the, needs of the whole of the Australian representation. But this Dominion’s delegation does not end with three Ministers and their attendants. There are five other delegates, without any defined standing. Mr D. Jones, representing the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board; Mr W. Good- | fellow, representing the New Zealand I Dairy Produce Board; Mr H. E. Napier, representing the New Zealand Fruit Growers’ Federation; Sir Francis Boyes representing the New Zealand farmers’ Union, and a representative of the Manufacturers' Association still to be nominated. These gentlemen and their staffs, it is stated, are not to be any charge upon the Government, but it i.s conceivable that they may become a considerable tax upon a section of the community unrepresented at the Empire Conference. This is a point to which .the Prime Minister anil his colleagues should he turning attention.