TOAST TO NEW ZEALAND

Chronicle (Levin), 10 February 1948, Page 5

TOAST TO NEW ZEALAND

(N.Z.P.A.-

— Reuter.

Mr. Bevin &;id Sdme Very Nice Tiriags v. . — > x .

Copyright)

Rpceived Monday, 7.0 p'.xn. LuaDUN, 8. . An atmosphere 0 i expectation' was. notieeaDie when Mr, Bevin, ForeygnSecrepary, rose to propose the toast'^1 "New Fealand'L at- tne dinner of the New 'Zealand Mociety. There had been a whisper that Mr. Bevin intehded to use the oeeasion to inake an importarif statement oh international affairs;. but Mr. Beyiit was out to enjoy hjmself, Apart from one refe'rence to the Western Union and the insight into demoeracy which he had given the Americans and Russians, he was happy 1 6 talk about New Zealand herseif.The British CominonWealth, said Mr. Bevin, had tried to find a way to bind peoples together with bonds of iiberty. In other parts pf ihe, world there vvas a eonception that. unity could only" be maintained by totalitariauism, that the only way justiee eoitAl be given was by people 's courts serving' . -the .exeeufive, and that the only thing Ivtlding people together was terror and v the . police State, . ■ . . IndefiiiableMJnity. The unity of the Commonwealth, Mr. Bevin went on, was indehnatLe. It was something that made its memLers ntove together to res'ist tyranhy or any thing that interfered with Iiberty of" minu and conseience. It was: a thing never forgot. , "I have told the Americans, the Russians, and others: * When you taik oi democracy and freed.om/ rentember that this old Commonwealth of oufs has been mobilised in inah-power, wealth, anu eft'ort for one day in avery three over the last 30 years. And what for?Bankruptcy in material wealth, but the salvation of the soul of mankind. ' " Mr. Bevin said he envied New Zealand, especially as I was born here and had to liyp here," He envied New Zealand 's climate, and had aiways ad.mired the wonderful cliaracter of its people. He liked its tolerance, too, out, he wenf on, he had never coneedeti that its settlement had been chiefly due to Scots, Then as laughter began ne added, "Because, like Bili here, there were a few Cockneys among them." - "I Loved Your Country." ('l have been to New Zealand,". the Foreigft •Secretary continued. "I loved youf country. You cannot help developing a great affection for it. " Nobody who had lived in Britain through two. w;orld wars, and had seen the response of New Zealand, witty its comparativeiy small population, could hehy but admire its devotroh to the Mother" Country and the Empire. " It is thatwhich endears New Zealand so much to apr liearts," he said. "Their mon ano their women vvhora you meet seem tb taik to you as if they were from - the same village as yourself. " New7 Zealand represented an amazing achievemeiit in, the social lield, Ali Bevin went on. "I remember listenin^. to that great son of New Zealand, Dici loddon. I was only a youth, but 1 rt member him in Bristol. And behind hn great desire to sell us his niutton he hau a gi'eat social eonception. 1 enjoyei

his ideas on social development and hi. New- Zealand lanvb as well." ' Mr. Bevin recalled talldng with Nl.i Savage as he lay on a sick bed; anu ret'erring to Mr. Praser he added, " Wi reailj7 educated hihi in the Indepenq ent Labour Party." "Wifhout eausing a Dominion oi international incident, I should like ti say that your country is so blessed your prospeets so good, your opportun ities so great, that sometimes as Foi eign yecretarv I "would like to see yoi five millions instead of one and a hatl I Iteliewe that in that area of the worlu it would have not only an economic bu-. a political influence that would have a tremendous iniportance. " East End Spelling. In his reply, Mr, Jorda'n recalled. hiearly association with "Oxton" in the East End of London, "When I re" turne'd to England after an absence of 30 years I was asked if I smW-any difv ferenees. I said,...' Yes, they put an II in 'Oxton now. It wasn't {here when I left, ' " f ' J-A, y y , J Tlie Foreigu Recrelary " Jooke(r" -thoughtful when Mr, Jordan commentei1 on the higher prices both Argentina ant Denmark, were asking Britain for their meat and bntter, and said he' hoped thal when the buyers' market returned, New Zealand 's refusal to do the same would be remembered in her favour. He nod ded when Mr. Jordan said he ehyisaged the day wben Britain and the Dominipns would sit together to discnss foreign policv. Other speakefs included Lord Newall, the former Governor-General, .and Mf. A. Y, Alexander, Minister of Defpnee, who paid a tribute to New Zealand 's "Wonderful small . gallant Navy" atid her airmen and soldiers.