CLOSER RELATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 July 1941, Page 7

CLOSER RELATIONS

SOUGHT WITH RUSSIA NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY FORMED EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A decision to form an organisation to be known as the New Zealand Society for Closer Relations with Russia was made at a meeting in Wellington on Monday. The objects of the society will be to promote cultural, diplomatic and economic relations between the people of New Zealand and the people of the U.S.S.R. and to do everything possible to help secure victory against the Nazi and Fascist aggressors.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and president of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Mr Barnard. In attendance were representatives of cultural groups as well as members of professional business men and women. The meeting was addressed by Mr Atmore, M.P. It was decided that the society have a permanent council and permanent executive, but that before the establishment of such bodies, a provisional council and executive be appointed for three months, within which time a meeting of members will be called to elect the permanent council and executive. The provisional council on a broad basis was formed at the meeting and a provisional executive elected. This latter body was instructed to arrange for publicity, speakers, meetings and the organisation of branches in other centres in order to form a New Zealand-wide body to publicise various aspects of Russian affairs. It was stated that such a society could do a great deal to improve public morale and to ensure a more unified body of opinion in support of the Anglo-Russian alliance. The meeting resolved to send a letter to the acting-Prime Minister, advising him of the formation of the society, its objects, and expressing the meeting’s view that the Government should give consideration to exchanging diplomatic representatives with the U.S.S.R., investigating possibilities of greater trade and putting at the disposal of the Russian people any surplus commodities in New Zealand not neded for war purposes by the United Kingdom or the British Dominions.

About £3O was raised toward the preliminary expenses of the organisation. The executive committee elected included Mr Barnard, Mr Atmore, M.P., Mrs Stewart, M.P., the Rev Percy Paris, the Rev W. S. Rollings, Mr C. G. Scrimgeour and Mrs Stables.