EMPIRE RELATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 August 1938, Page 8

EMPIRE RELATIONS

DELEGATES ENTERTAINED IN WELLINGTON EXPRESSIONS OF GOODWILL (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Parliamentarians and prominent citizens of Wellington met British, Irish and Canadian delegates to the British Commonwealth Relations Conference in Australia this morning, and expressions of goodwill and appreciation of Empire relations were exchanged. The Hon P. Fraser apologised for the absence of the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) and welcomed the visitors on behalf of the Government. He stressed the need for the British Commonwealth in an unsettled world and said the excellent relations between Britain and the United States also helped towards stability. He considered that the British Commonwealth and America could make the democracies safe. The Rt hon G. W. Forbes, speaking on behalf of the Opposition, said all realised the necessity for a united front at the present time. Sir Apirana* Ngata welcomed the delegates on benaii of the Maori race, and referred to the attitude of the rest of the world to Britain, who was called an old and retired burglar. The Maoris were extremely thankful that they were under the British flag instead of any other flag. Sir John Pratt (Great Britain) expressed pleasure at the hospitality of New Zealanders, and said he was sure the English-speaking peoples had a deep desire to see fair play for everyone. He was impressed, he said, by the fact that the people of New Zealand were trying to arrive at a new world order. He believed that the order would be reached, and .that the idealisip in the minds of the New Zealand people would guide the counsels of their Government. Mr John O’Farrell (Eire) also thanked the Government for its welcome and made humorous reference to the way in which his country had become a free part of the Commonwealth after seven hundred years.