POST-WAR POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 May 1943, Page 3

POST-WAR POLICY

ECONOMIC AND OTHER PROBLEMS ADDRESS BY MR NASH. PROSPECTS OF AMERICAN CO-OPERATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Problems _ A of post-war settlement were discussed by the New Zealand Minister to Washington (Mr Nash) last night, when he delivered the inaugural lecture of the newly-formed Social Science Section of the Royal Society of’New Zealand.

Mr Nash said New Zealand would have a great responsibility in helping to meet the world post-war demand for milk foods.

The problem of world production and distribution of raw materials, he thought, would have to be dealt with in the same way as that of food supplies was about to be dealt with at the United Nations Conference at . Hot Springs, Virginia. The present interAUied boards would serve as a basis and might possibly be developed into world distribution controllers. The success of the various forms of control was evident, Mr Nash said, and he instanced the Ministry of Food in Britain. The farmers of Britain wanted it carried on after the war.

Mr Nash developed his address from the basis of the Atlantic Charter, which, he said, had been written from the origins of President Roosevelt's Four Freedoms. It was significant that in January, 1942, 27 nations had voluntarily agreed to its principles, which meant that those nations had agreed to order their external policies so as not to harm the people of other countries. Four more countries had since adhered to the declaration. “The world won’t stand the return of the pre-war state of things, Mr Nash observed. “If they returned there would be revolution at once. The prospect of social reconstruction in Britain is better today than it has ever been.” Mr Nash dealt with the transfer of populations, and said New Zealand should' make it clear to “some people in the North-West Pacific” that it was not because of race or colour that we had not allowed them to settle here. “If we think,” added Mr Nash, “we can continue to hold this country on a population of Iff millions, then we’re dreaming. There are resources in this little country sufficient to support a population of five or six millions if they are handled properly.” Referring to Article 7 of Lend-Lease agreements, Mr Nash pointed out that its provision regarding trade discrimination might mean that after the war there would be abolition of trade tariffs between Britain and New Zealand, but he reminded his listeners that in that case the United Slates would have to remove hers. Asked what was to become of New Zealand’s recently developed industries in the light of his address, Mr Nash said he could not see the country developed on the lines of absolute free trade. If we got the system he had outlined some types of goods would be made and others abandoned. “1 do not suggest,” Mr Nash said, “we should produce things which would cost three times as much as we could get them for from overseas.”

The final question to Mr Nash was whether there was strong support in the United States among people who counted for the principles he had outlined.

“I think there is a strong body of opinion, with some of its adherents in high places, who are in favour of their application,” he replied. “The same can be said of Britain. What we have to do is to link those people together. Then, if we work hard enough, I think we shall get somewhere.”