MR. FRASER'S ADMISSION

Chronicle (Levin), 15 August 1946, Page 5

MR. FRASER'S ADMISSION

-Press Association

WATERSIDERS DECIDE FOREIGN POLICY

By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, August 14. Mr. D. C. Xidd (Waitaki), in the House today, said it was a disgrace to have a Government which was supxrosed to he running the countrv, awaiting decisions by watersiders to load wool for overseas. Ile was referring to the Prime Minister 's reply to a question he asked in which he wanted to know wliat action the Prime Minister proposed to take regarding the watersiders' refusal to load wool which had recently been sokl to Spain. Mr. Kidd also sought an inilication from the Prime Minister as to who decided to whom New Zealand should sell her wool. Mr. Fraser, in reply, said it was anticipated that wool sold for use in tSpain would be loaded in the course 01 a t'ew days. Ile added that the national executive of the Federation of Laboui had delinitely declared that the wool shuuld be shipped. The disposal oi New Zealand wool was handled by the Wool Disposal Cominission in compliance with the xrolicy Jaid down by United Kingdom Wool Disposals Ltd., and the only restriction in regard to overseas orders was that buyers were required to conq)ly with the provisions of the Trading With The Enemy Act. JMr. Kidd criticised the Government for loading delays which held up many lioine boats at wluirves while waiting for watersiders to decide foreign j)olicy. Who was to meet the extra charges entailed, he asked. It was time there was a showdown and time for the Government to say to the watersiders: " If you are not going to load the wool we will flnd someone who will." The producers did not want to be told by watersiders to whom they should sell tlieir wool and when it would be loaded. Air. ,J. T. Watts (Riccarton)" said the Prime Alinistur's answer was remarkable. The Opposition had previously sa'id there were groups outside the Iiouse influencing the Government and now the House had heard from the Prime Minister an admission that the national executive of the Federation of Labour had decided the external jjolicy of New Zealand. Air. E. B. Corbett (Egmont) said the wool had gone not to clothe General Franco but to clothe the people of Spain and the attitude adopted by the ' ' industrial; bouncers ? ' ' of the" eountry, was very miserable.