MR. NASH'S VISIT TO MOSCOW

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 205, 15 September 1937, Page 3

MR. NASH'S VISIT TO MOSCOW

— Prees Association.)

Denial That He Attenfled . Conlerence MEMBER'S CURIOSITY

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. Curiosity as to the circumstances under which the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, had visited Russia during his recent mission abroad was sliown by Mr W. J. Polson (Nat. Stratford) when speaking in the Imprest Supply Bill debate in the House of Representatives to-night. He said that the Minister had attended a conference in that country on May Day, but this was denied by Mr Nash. Mr Polson said he had never at any time suggested that the Prime Minister, the 1U. Hon. M. J. Savage, was not entitled to do all the good li© could at Home. He thougkt the Trime Minister had represented this country worthily and well, and congratulated him on that. The trip of tlie Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, was -probably a good inv/estment— -a good investment if he succeeded iu teaching the rest of the world as much as he attempted to teack it at Geneva. Referring to the Minister of Finance, Mr Polson said he did not tliink- the results of the mission were likely to be worth the money expended on the tour. In his opinion the Minister stayed too long away. The Minister had travelled far and talked a lot, but what had he achieved? asked Mr Polson. It was true Mr Nash had delivered a good ma.ny addresses, iitcluding some sermons, .and good ones, too. According to published reports the Minister had delivered a- sermon in the New Zealand cliurch in London, wbere he spoke of the regimentation of the individual as the antithesis of Christianity . Having said that, the Minister had gone to Moscow. May Day Jubilation. "I don't know what the Minister went to Moscow for,5? said Mr Polson. "I don't know whether he went there for trade, particularly on May Day, but I want to ask why he alone of British Ministers went to Russia on that day, the day appointed by the Tkird International of the Soviet as a day of jubilation.55 At tliis stage Mr Speaker, the Hon. W. E. Barnard, interrupted Mr Polson and pointed oufc to him that although the limits in an Imprest Supply debate were very wide he thought the member for Stratford was exceeding those limits. Mr Polson; I ani discussing the cost of tho Minister's trip abroad. Mr Speaker: I think you have gone a littlo beyond that, and tliat you are discussing the merits or demerits of the Minister's trip to Russia. Mr Polson; Had tlie Minister paid his own expenses it would haye been dilferent. The Minister attended a conference in Russia at tlie expense of the taxpayers of this country. Mr Nash: I attended no conference. Mr Polson : I am glad to hear tliat, Mr Nash: No conference v/as lield while I was there. Mr Polson: That is peculiar because there was a conference that day. Government members ; Apologise. Labour Leader's Advlcc. Mr Polson: Sir Walter Citrine, of the British Trades Union Congress, advised trades union representatives in Great Britain. not to attend the conference. Ishould be able to criticise the trip of any Minister who goes anywhere at the expense of the country. Mr Nash: Speak the truth while doing it. Mr Polson: I have merely suggested the Minister was in Russia at the time of the conference, and I want to know the facts. Mr Nash : I attended no conference. Mr Polson : Tho Minister tells ihe he attended no conference and 1 accept that statement. ■Continuing, Mr Polson said that Mr Nash liad gone abroad with an offer to spend the whole of the proceeds from the salo of New Zealand produce in Great Britain in that country. Ho would like to know the result of tho Minister's negotiations in that connection, for it liad been stated that he had i'ailed in that .Mssiou.