FOOD FOR BRITAIN

Opotiki News, Volume X, Issue 1046, 14 November 1947, Page 3

FOOD FOR BRITAIN

IR. MELVILLE’S ADDRESS -■N OUTSTANDING SPEAKER Mr. K. Melville, president of the ad.-N.Z.E.F. Association, who ive an address on “FoocMor Bri--lin” on Tuesday night, proved imself to be an outstanding speak- ■ and it was very disappointing that ie attendance in the Regent Hall as so small. It is certain that had e public realised the high standd of the address, the hall would ive been packed. At the conclu>n of the address, the Mayor, r. T. G. Johnson, stated- that it is the best address he had ever ard in that hall. Mr. Johnson acted as chairman, d with him on the platform was r. O. Gordon, chairman of the >otiki Food for Britain Commit5. In introducing the speaker, ; Mayor expressed his disapintment at the small attendance. *. Melville was visiting Opotiki a very important mission—'ood for Britain”. Britain was in c straits and was' suffering as J had never suffered and as she >uld never be allowed to suffer.

In rising to speak Mr. Melville inked those present for turning t to hear a subject which was t a popular one. There were two Is of the problem, the receiving I and the country that was do- ; the aiding. In mentioning the minion Conference dealing with

aid that New Zealand could c to Britain, Mr. Melville pointout that the complexity of the lition when it was realised that took 80 foolscap of closely typed y to cover the deliberations.

Iritaiu was in the plight she is in lay because she fought the longami the hardest, said Mr. Melc, who stated the world had a ing attitude to-day towards her. j first point he wished to make i that it was good business for tv Zealand to look after our best Comer-—Great. Britain. She was

mother of parliaments and the dier of us all. We should have e with any shadow 'of charity, asked his hearers what Britain ; like to-day and to have a look her. To emphasise his remarks read extracts from the paper orizon”. Britain was starting again from scratch he said.

r c should not at this juncture ie any mistake about Britain’s sssity. There was an old saythat England always won her battle. Her people to-day were iting on about- two-thirds of ,t we cat of rationed goods. aid cannot be recognised as rity. Britain was in the tightcorner of her history. and one l’t help a bankrupt by giving n money. We should seek to ore the world’s best market. If land failed where would we get markets 1 asked the speaker. .

r. Melville then dealt in detail i England’s financial position, ssing in particular her huge ;s to Egypt and India and the : poor attitude adopted by these itrics to-da3'. These debts were Durable badges won in the corncause. How was this inclebt:ss incurred 1 For having stood e in the breach and holding

fort until other countries ight it prudent to come in. Bri-

had numerous overseas reces before the war. These dis;ared as the war went on being l to pay for the war. Ingrati- - was being shown by those itrics England had sheltered, .•as a bitterly ironical situation -'hicli Britain must pay the 3. She w-as now dredging the om of the bucket. Britain’s

to the world was now £4,>OO,OOO. The American loan b through as a pump-priming, c.s immediately rose and the e of the loan reduced. Ameriras now realising she must help ut Britain on her feet. Fortun- ; not all the world took up the liidc of the countries he had tioned.

r, Melville referred back to the ltd following the First AA’orld when America could not be

. in gold and would not be in the only way other way—pods. The same position ap--1 to-day. The sooner we forgot debts to Egypt, India, Irak, l’alle an other places the better, urged that, if it would aid Bri- | we should scale down our ling balances. We must con.tribto the scaling down of an un- , unjust and (insupportable ;. It would be good business ireat Britain would always be best customer.

lore was a strong bond hern Great Britain and ourselves, in regard to trade and defence, aiding of Britain in any way ::ould would be a- prudent move, i bankrupt Europe was to be id from- complete Communism at Britain would have to be put ler feet.

ic speaker stated that a sccof the people of the United ;es, quite justifiably, criticised ain for laxity of effort. They id why the people of the U.S.A. lid work long hours while Engl herself .was reducing hours at the same time asking for jrican aid. The real burden on vas to help Britain in her postefforts. In regard to England’s i to Europe £80,000,000 was beexpended annually to help Geriy. Britain had taken on more ponsibility in Europe than she d reasonably ' bear. That was the more reason why w e should i Britain.

his now brought us to the local ,e. How were we going to renaid. Mr. Melville outlined his rcssions of the Wellington Connce where everybody was try-