LOYALTY LEAGUE’S VIEWS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 877, 22 January 1930, Page 14

LOYALTY LEAGUE’S VIEWS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER Press Association WELLINGTON, Tuesday. A deputation representing the Loyalty League and the Grand Orange Lodge of Xew Zealand waited upon the Hon. G. W. Forbes, acting-Prime Minister, this morning, to request that the Government reserve for further discussion certain issues which are stated to be included in the agenda of the forthcoming Imperial Conference. The Rev. Howard Elliott, speaking on behalf of the Loyalty League, said the issues about which they are immediately concerned are the right of appeal to the Privy Council, the proposal to cancel the right of the Governor-General to reserve his assent to any Bill, and a proposed change in the wording of the Coronation Oath and the Colonial Law’s Validity Act. Mr. Elliott requested the Government to instruct Xew Zealand’s representative at the next Imperial Conference that these questions should be reserved for further discussion. Messrs. George Petherick and Smith supported the request of Mr. Elliott. Mr. Forbes said the report from the Experts* Committee on the Dominion legislation and from the sub-confer-ence on Merchant Shipping had just been received, and at present were confidential. As soon as the document was released and had been considered by Cabinet, a statement would be made to the Press. In the meanwhile Mr. Forbes agreed that the suggestions referred to by the speakers were of the greatest importance, and said that the Government might be depended on to oppose anything affecting the unity of the Empire or its Imperial connection. —_