Address-in-Reply Debate Concludes

Chronicle (Levin), 17 July 1948, Page 5

Address-in-Reply Debate Concludes

■ Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, July 16. The Address-in -Reply debate coneluded in the House of Representatives this afternoon after 38-.Gov(irnment uncl 35 Oppositiou speakers had par'tie.i- * pated. The debate extcnded 'tlirongii uine sitting days. Mr. Iv. J. Holyoake (Nat., Pah.) said the net result of the last war's victory was that we had changed oue form ot dictatorsliip for anotlier which had made Hitlerism * look pretty erude. Since the end of the war three yoars ago the niap of Europe had been clihnged by politieal wars.- Russian Coniinunisni had doubled its einpiro in tiro last three years by the addition of 240,00(),0Q0 people and" the big question was whether tlie Iron Curtain would uiOVe fdj'ther westward. Not oue ot the countries had been added by tlie demoeratie vote of the people. The key to world peace and prosperity . was thrCuitbd States. • Thfl sentinieiits expi'essed during tlie debate by Mr. Ormond Wilson (Palliibrston Nortli) tliat \vhat America did was for her own interests were the same sentinieiits. as tbose of Moscow. Russia , was not a passivq dictatorsliip and tlie j Ued tide had swop|" s>jT[ far westward^ and eastward' that we nlust preRa're fbi 4 it. The British Empire would play anincreasingly important part in the wol'ld, pa'r'ticularly if New Zealand and th'e other parts of the Coiiinionwealtii played t'lieir p'art. New Zealand should liave followed the Britisli and Ainerican exainple in r'egdrd to military training. Why could not the Goveriiment make up its mimi | on this question? Was it beeause of past associations and the baekground 0" luenibers of the Government tliat tlie IT'inie Minister hud lieen "vague on this issue? i\Ir. H'olyoake said it was heartlireaking at present that ships should be diverted from -New Zealand. It showed the hand of the wrecker, but the Government seenied unable to deal with the situation. The Governmein should enforce the law without fear or favour. After Mr. Tirikatene and Air. Freer replied to the debate, the Prime Minister said some intimation might be given next week of the likely date foi tlie introduction of the Bndget. lie liad not yet discussed the maitO" wit'i Ihe Minister of Finance. Reports oi cbmmittees would he discussed on Tuesd'ay afteriieon a'rid tlie Tubercuiosis BilJ 011 Tuesday night.