HEATED DENIALS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20013, 11 August 1939, Page 6

HEATED DENIALS

REPUDIATION AIM DEBT'S OF DOMINION GOVERNMENT ASSURANCE REELINGS RUN HIGH. OPPOSITION C ASTIG ATED ' <Parliamentary Report or.) WELLINGTON, this day. Demonstrations, of feeling were shown in the House of Representatives during the first hour of the resumption of the debate on the anti-repudiation amendment, proposed by the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (Nat., I-lurunui), the previous evening, which has not been parallelled lor’many sessions. .The first shock came when the act-ing-leader, the Hon. P. Fraser secured Ihd adoption of a motion , for urgency for the whole debate, following Mr. Forbes, who briefly concluded his speech. . Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Nat., Riccarton), seconded, the following amendment introduced by the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (Nat. I-lurunui), the previous evening:-—“That thjs House urges the Government to consider whether the time has arrived for it to state that this House has no sympathy with any suggestion of repudiation of our debts, cither overseas or in New Zealand' and affirms that the Dominion is determined to fulfil her obligations, .both now and in the future; that the Government gives an emphatic contradiction to any suggestions made in this House, implied or otherwise, to the contrary and that this House expresses appreciation to the United Kingdom for the generous treatment accorded New Zealand in the recent financial negotiations in London.” Amendments Declined Mr. Fraser declined to accent the amendment as one of no-confidence, because repudiation of the xcouivtry’s responsibilities had never been contemplated by the Government or' the Government Party. (Labour, hoar, hears.) It was, he .said hotly, a stunt with perhaps the ulterior motive of embarrassing the Gdvernment by raising groundless alarm. There was no need to ask the Government for such assurances. The only time lie had ever heard of repudiation was in connection with what happened when 'the previous Government forcibly reduced interest rates. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Ind Egmont). You supported that. Mr. Fraser: This side, of the House did not support the cutting down of interest or anything, and the Government has never left, the country in the least doubt regarding its attitude towards the country’s financial responsibilities.

After further warm condemnation of the Opposition’s action Mr. Fraser turned to the conditions of the recent loan. “They arc .not the sort of conditions we would like and thought we had the right to expect (Labour, hear, hears), but taking the finan-

cial position of Britain into consideration, we considered the terms the best possible at the moment. There is going to be no effort on the part of the Government to run away from them or to place the responsibility on the Minister of Finance, the lion. W. Nash.” Cabinet Fully Informed

-1-Ie added: that cabled messages kept all members of the Cabinet fuiiy informed of the negotiations. They look the full responsibility for acceptance. It seemed to him that the member for Grey 'Lynn. Mr. A. Lee looked at conditions, Stating that if the same conditions imposed by any concensus of circumstances m resuect of all the loans falling due in "a few'years’ time, he wondered' if the country’s economy and finam cl a 1 ramifications could stand up to it. “That was what I took from it, and ;■£ any member cli this side of the House or the other had suggested the Government should contemplate repudiation, then instantly I would have asked trio .permission cl the House, in my capacity as trustee for the PrimeMinister, to .get up,and repudiate that meir/jer so .far as the .'Government or Government party is concerned. ’ ■Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Nat., Central o*--'"V ■TKon'-cnrids -af people outside came to that conclusion. (Mr. Fraser: If they imagine by rcad- ),.. vvor'as, words which are not there, it is not helping this country. I can only -marvel at the complexity fact in-gcnuily of the:; thinking forces. Mr. 'Bodkin: TL has fore::;! the Government into making a satirjfi.ctory state,meat. _ ■ I “Miserable Party Advantage” Mr. Fraser: There was no advantage hi raising it -for ’ a miserable party advantage. , Answering Mr. H. -S. S. Kyle, -who made acme interjection, 'Mr. Fra so: declared angrily: “He show's hr chagrin over the frustration c-f f mitcircblc party trick in which ) • credit of the country is, being sacri (keel. (Labour handclaps and applause.'’ Mr. Fraser'.suggested that the oreps: course would have been. c:Ther to r.sii 1.1.1 urgent question, which would have been answered at any moment, -day o: night, or for the -Deposition leaders U have consulted with the leaders of fire Government. Mr. Bodkin: The amendment -ho. been very effective in -gcU'ug a satisfactory sir. teme n t. Mr. Fraser: It would he the decent thing to withdraw it in any event. The House will vote that the Speaker leave the chair to- go into committee of supply, not on the amendment. My. Foifocs: Why? Mr. Fraser: The majority of the House will vote the Government the right to supply, the amendment, going into the dustbin of foolish resolutions sprung in a foolish and: dangerous way. (Loud applause from the Labour benches). Indebted for Statement The Leader of the Opposition, the lion. Adam Hamilton, replied that his pr.tty was indebted: for the statement. It is all very well for Mr. Fraser to try to put' the blame on us when the Opposition. • has done a distinct national' service. (Labour dissent). “Yes,'’ continued Mr. -Hamilton, “a distinct service in getting this statement. and if lie likes to take the course lie suggested in moving a resolution to the effect that the credit of the country is not in danger, and the national debt would be paid' to' the utmost farthing, I will be delighted

to second •it and end the debate. It s time the matter was Brought to a Mr. Hamilton:! listened to it over the air on. Sunday night and the; Government is taking no action to prevent this going abroad from a paid servant of the Government. Mr. Fraser: That’s unfair, head. lias been, talk all over the place not. only in the House but ever the radio—this talk about nonpayment of the debt Air. F. W. Schramm (Lab., Auckland East): Who said it? “A Frank Speech” Mr. Hamilton:- If it is not-shaping up to the stage of not paying the interest on our debt, .then. I don’t 'know .-/hat he did mean. He understood that Mr. Lee’s speech had (been broadcast to Australia. . - } Mr. Lee: It was a good speech anyhow. •Mrs Hamilton-: A frank speech which expressed .the mind of mafi.v of his colleagues judging by the “Hear, hears.” However, concluded the Opposition Leader,, it would clear, the' air to have an assurance that the Government was not associated with any thought of repudiation, ,I'or if democracy were glnng ’to survive it. had tot to stand up to- a hard tiling ms veil as .an easy one. If it used other people's money, it. must -either stand up- to the bargain or not take their money. If the terms were hard, it was the Governments own fault for the .position in which it found itself. Mr. Leo: You admit they are hard? Auckland Rugby Visitors The Auckland Rugby Union’s .representative team, selected to play Poverty Bay in Gi-borne to-morrow. • left their- home city yesterday and 'spent last night in Rotorua. They were to resume their journey this morning, and their arrival at Gisborne is’ scheduled for between 5 ami (i p.m„ The members of the learn, will be .the; guests of the.'King’s Theatre management this evening- /