CONFERENCE REPORT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 6, 30 September 1937, Page 3

CONFERENCE REPORT

-I'rpse Aowri#! inn )

Mr. Savage on "Economic Foundations" DEBATE IN THE HOUSE

'By 'iVI.'arfvpli-

. > 4 ■% ; - WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the House to-night the Prime Minister, lit. Hon. M. J. Savage, disicussing the report on the Imporiai Conferenee, said the New Zealand delegation went to the Imperiai Conference satisfied that the League oi' Nations provided the hest means of ensuring world peaco provided, of course, that the League machinery was properly used. There, however, lay the trouble. Various nations had given lip service to cna thing and practiced something else while discussing foreign affairs at the conference. He felt that unless we laid a proper economic foundation we couid not get very far on the road to peace. By "economic foundation" he did not mean the acquisition of more territory. The empty aTeas of the Empire were already apparently, creating enough problems. The main thing wrong with the world to-day, he said, was that nations were not bnyers to the same extent as they were sellers. That was the main Teason for war. We had to-day people of one country butting in to that of another because of economic conditions and eventually coming into . armed confliet. He was afraid we must plead guilty io a similar charge,. The New -Zealand delegates had great difficulty in getting the delegates from other Dominions to see the economic point of view in the scheme of world peace. The New Zealand delegates felt that unless these were an economic settlement the Conference could not get very far on the road to peace. They had the fullest information on foreign affairs from the British Government, but could not get anywhere, and the New Zealand delegates felt that they could not get anywhere until there was a round-'table conference to discuss .what was wrong with the economic conditions. , " At length, ' ' added Mr. Savage, " we got the conference to say they believed an increase in the standard of life of the people was a desirable thing, but they would not agreo that it was essential. However, it had been worth while being able to express oui opiuions. "Mr Savage went on to speak of the clu«ie co-operation between Britain and the Dominions and said although they did not always agree with what the British Government did they did notice that co-operation. He also referred to tho embarrassment caused the British Government by some people speaking Out of their turn and asked them to stop and reflect before they created such embarrassment fcr the Empire and the world. He also referred to the conference 's discussion of curreney matters. Mr J. Hargest, speaking of defence, said they should dovetail New Zealand 's defence system with those of Australia and India and other component parts of the Empire. He agreed with Mr* Savage Ihat the League of Nations had not failed but was suffering a temporary eclipse, aua also drew attention to the fact that no re-affirm-ation of loyalty to the Empire was included in the report. He thought such re-affirmation should be included. Labour members: Read the report! Mr Hargest: I have read it thoroughly. The word Empire is never nsed in the Prime Minister 's speech. Mr H. M. Rushworth asked that instead of putting so much brain-poweT into keeping ourselves in war why not put some brain-power into seeking tha causes of war. The Prime Minister had sumqied up the position admirably when he said the nations had bccome producers and not buyer3. Nations, he said, were "pirating" the purchqsing power from each othtr and that, he thought, was the reason for the present trouble in China. Bev. C. L, Carr sail the British Throne was the greatest factor in Empire unity and world peace. There could be no abiding pCaco without prosperi'ty and contentment, but he said a prosperous nation could lead the -world. He agreed that the only hope in the world to-day was in collective security. The majority of nations were willing to cooperate to-day and if they did they would have advanced at least one stage on the journey to world peace. Mr Garr continued that he would remind the member for Awarua (Mr Hargest) that real loyalty was not skin deep and required to be constautly ra-affirmed. The average people of Britain did not go Tound wearing their loyalty to tho Commonwealth on their sleeves, but it was there ncverthcless. Rt. Hon. G. Forbes said tho Prime Minister must remember that other delegates to the Imperiai Conference had tried just as sincerely and earnegtly to assist in. solving the problems which faced the Empire as had the New -Zealand delegates, but perhaps all of them could not agree to sqme of the / mcasures. Spoakiug of defence meas- • urcs, he stated military sanetions would lcad to war. Britain had done her part to couserve peace and had wealcened hei#jl£ in the Course of disarmament, Re-armament showed that without armaments Britaiu and "the Empire could not malce their effect felt for peace. Ile lioped/that what had been done at the Imperiai Coufereneo in (he direction of def erir p, would strengthen tha Government 's resolve to take adequate measuTes aAd pay an adequate share in the defence of New Zealand. He appealcd to the Government to do all in its power -to show that the ser-vk-es of the Territorials were appreciated. " - The Minister of Finance, Hon. W Nash, said the question of loyalty had been raised. Hq would remind tboffi J

Zealand said "Home" when going to the Imperiai Conference. He also drew attention to the loyal addrcss the Prime Ministei had presented to his Majesty on the oecasion of his coronation. The loyalty that came from members of the Government was not exclusiveiy confined to one person. There was no nation iu the world, he said, that was moro dasiroua of keeping world peace than the Dniced Kingdom and he paid tribiito to Mr Anthony Eden, British tieeretary for, Foreign Affairs, as the maii who moro than anyone else had helped to keep the Eufopeau. confiagration in check. Mi Nash said there was no nation or grouii of nations, no matter how powerfui, which would be able to maintain lasting peace. The British Commonwealth ' Wouxd not accept the domination of any other country, then how couid ws expect them to agree to our dominating 'them'] Thero was only one way to ensure the peace .of the world and ! that j was through the League of Nations and delegates at the Imperiai Conference * pledged themselves to assist in every jueague Covenant to their maximum way to bring the provisions of thc efficiency. The re-armament of Britain, ho believed, had had a restraiuing effect on nations dominated by dictators, but •armaments would not bring permanent peace. Mr Nash went on to discuss the] details of the Imperiai Conference and contended that New Zealand did not have a sufficient number of delegates thero to attend to everything which required attention. In conclusion,' the •Minister stated the British Commonwealth was tho greatest factor for peace and anything that happened to uisintegrate it would be a world disaster. Mr A. C. A. Sexton considered British re-armament was the greatest factor in world peace to-day, but -he also stated that the possibilities of collective security should be born in mind. Mr W. J. L'yon said it had struck him that there never scemed to be any difficulty in securing sufficient money to build armaments, but he thought tho Prime Minister was more concerned in seeuring money for the people. He believed t the fact that the Imperiai Coaference had been held at the time it had had made a definite contribution to world peace and he applauded the stand Mr Savage had taken in favour of the League of Nations. Mr W. J. Broadfoot stressed the importance of Imperiai and Parliamentary conferences and suggested that the New Zealand Government should at some time iu the future uxtend ab invitation for au Empire Parliamentary Conference to be held in the Dominion. The House rose at 10.30 p.m.