PRIME MINISTER NOT GOING TO OTTAWA

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 246, 8 June 1932, Page 5

PRIME MINISTER NOT GOING TO OTTAWA

Special Cimmissioner.)

LATEST DECISION STRONG POSSIBILITY MR. COATES MAY FOLLOW EXAMPLE MANY COMPLEX PROBLEMS

("Post"

. WELLINGTON,, Monday. In view of the existing economic- conditions, and the outlook for the coming months, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, announced to-night that he .would not - attend the Ottawa Conference as originally ed.In a statement on the question Mr. Forbes said that he considered the correct' course was -for him to remain in New Zealand. . "I have from time to time in-dic-ated in public pronouncements, my view of the extfeme importance of the Ottawa- Conference, not only to the British Commonwealth as a whole, hut to this Dominion individually," Mr. Forbes said, "and holdihg this yiew, I have consistently felt. that New Zealand should be. represented at Ottawa hy the strongest possijble delegation. It was for this reason and this reason only, that I considered (and my colleagues agreed with me) that the delegation should be headed by the Prime Minister. Increasing Gravity "In making that decision, the Government had in no way lost sight of

the serious and urgent problems with which this Dominion is confronted, but these problems have since given every indication of increasing gravity and complexity. I have given most earnest thought to the position, and have come to the conclusion that in the existing ciroumstances, the Prime Minister of this Dominion should properly remain in New Zealand. I have therefore decided that, notwithstanding the importance of the Ottawa deliberations, the correct course for me to pursue is to withdraw from the delegation. Representatives of New Zealand will accordingly be the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, and the Hon. Downie Stewart. I have the utmost confidence in their ability to perform the task that lies in front of them and I am convinced that the interests of New Zealand will he best served by the arrangement now made." Mr. Coates' Intentions Apart from Mr. Forbes' statement, it can be said almost definitely, that Mr. Coates will also remain in New Zealand. It has all along been his opinion that he should stay at home if the situation warranted his presence, and * although he was pressed to go to Ottawa by the primary producing interests, he was never keen. — in spite of the fact that his name was included among the delegates. He has been actively conneeted with the preparatory work, and, it is understood that he is satisfied that by the time the delegation leaves New Zealand, the case will be adequately prepared. In view of the present circumstances, therefore, it will not he surprising if he too announces his withdrawal in the course of the next fortnight, leaving Mr.' Stewart to proceed to Ottawa alone.