IMPERIAL COUNCIL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1943, Page 2

IMPERIAL COUNCIL

FEDERAL PRIME MINISTER’S PROPOSAL. WELCOMED BY MR FRASER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 9. “I am strongly in favour of any scheme which will bring the Dominions into closer consultation and cooperation with the United Kingdom, and each other,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, commenting on a proposal by the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, for the formation after the war of a permanent Empire council foi' the purposes of collaborating on post-war policy. “That co-operation is the very clear intention of Mr Curtin’s proposal, and it will receive from the Government of New Zealand the very .careful and friendly examination to which it is entitled,” continued Mr Fraser, “and coming from the Prime Minister of Australia just after he has received such an overwhelming vote of confidence from the people of the Commonwealth it is of even greater importance than if made under different circumstances.” - There were at the present time, of course, daily consultations with Britain on all matters of British Commonwealth and world war importance, added Mr Fraser, and co-operation between the countries of the British Commonwealth and the Empire had been very close, effective and beneficial during the war' period. “If a scheme for providing a workable basis for a permanent British Commonwealth organisation consistent with the sovereign status of the Dominions is put forward it will be welcomed by New Zealand,” concluded Mr Fraser.