HOME FOR BUDGET

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3278, 21 June 1943, Page 7

HOME FOR BUDGET

POST IN U.S. LEFT VACANT MINISTER OF FINANCE MR SUTHERLAND’S CRITICISM That in his opinion the Government had shown weakness in bringing the Minister of Fin ' home from Washington me to present the Budget v> ’ great problems were being <_ ■ cussed in that centre by Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt was the opinion expressed by Mr A. S. Sutherland, M.P., while speaking in the House of Representatives last week. Mr Sutherland said:—

“I should like to say a few words about our Washington and Ottawa officers. I think the Government was exceedingly weak in bringing the Minister of Finance home at a time like this. Surely to goodness there is someone in the Government who could have compiled the Budget without bringing home our ambassador. Mr Doidge.—No one else could have done it. Mr Sutherland.—l think the Prime Minister could have. We were without our diplomat in Washington when all the great problems were being discussed at the most important conference attended by Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt. Australia, Canada, India and China were represented by political heads, and New Zealand should have had an adequate representative there. What Of The Future “Our Minister was also absent when the United Nations’ food conference was held in the United States. The conference might have an important bearing on the future of New Zealand, and our Minister should have''been there. The Hon. Mr Nash. —No ambassadors or ministers were invited to that conference. Mr Sutherland.—lf the Minister had been' at his post at Washington he certainly would have been invited. I think he would have worked himself in all right. Surely party politics should not enter into a subject like this.

“It was manifestly wrong to bring the Minister home to introduce the Budget, because it was done at the expense of our war effort. The hon. gentleman should return to his post in Washington immediately. It is a full-time'job and he canhot afford to be absent. Position at Ottawa “The High Commissionership in Ottawa has also been vacant since the hon. member for Waimarino vacated the post. The hon. member himself thinks it is a most important post, and' I think we should be represented there. It carries a good remuneration —£4000 a year. “Recently the Prime Minister mentioned in the House that a number of the United Nations were anxious, because of New Zealand ? s prominence in the war, and particularly because of the wonderful fighting qualities' shown by our servicemen, to exchange representatives with the Dominion. The Government has made great talk regarding its plans for rehabilitation and what it is going to do for the returned men. I consider that the Government should appoint a returned soldier—one who has served in an actual theatre of war as High Commissioner at Ottawa. Job for Soldiers “We have plenty of men in ( this country who have seen service in two wars and we have many men who have been successful in the sphere of primary production and the commercial world. “If the Prime Minister is sincere he will immediately carry his promises into effect and see that returned soldiers are appointed to representative positions overseas. “Furthermore, I consider that any further vacancies in the Legr ''we Council should be filled by me: ' m have served overseas. We ve many trades union secretaries ni <.he Legislative Council and that body would be better balanced if returned soldiers were appointed in future.