THE INTERNATIONAL DANGER

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3258, 3 May 1943, Page 5

THE INTERNATIONAL DANGER

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Comradeship <and sympathy with the peoples of other nations must not warp our judgment in the use of New Zealand’s resources for the bene-, fit.of her own people. The greatest contribution we can make to world! brotherhood and security after this war is by establishing economic* brotherhood and security within New! Zealand, not only as an example, but as a basis for harmonious and generous relationships with other countries. Our planning for post-war reconstruction must be free from therestraint imposed 'by either the fear or the actuality of interference from outside. One of my first impressions of New Zealand was the extent, to which a sense of weakness and economic dependence, especially on Britain, dominated the outlook of many New Zealanders in approaching social or commercial problems. This conflicts with our reputation for progressiveness, and is entirely unfounded in fact. Today this attitude is dangerously apparent. It is implied in many of the public statements made by the Hon’. Walter Nash, since his return from Washington, and it is encouraged by the construction placed on the proposals recently published from British and United States sources for internationalising the post-war economy and monetary policy. The Atlantic Charter guarantees the rights and powers of individual governments in their own country. We must make sit clear that our Parliament is not authorised to enter into any committee which would limit New Zealand’s independence, especially in the fie.d of interna ional finance, and that we intend to be free to act in the best in’erests of our own people. On such a foundation we will be able to adopt a generous policy for trade and immigration. Those are the rights for which New Zealanders are laying down their lives.— l am, etc., /..Aland, 18:1:43. TOHN HOGAN-