THREAT LIKELY?

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 99, 29 April 1939, Page 12

THREAT LIKELY?

MR. NASH'S MISSION. DEMAND FOR BRITISH HELP. MR. HAMILTON'S WARMING. "It might l>e construed from the comments of the .Minister of Finance. Mr. Xa«h, in announcing his impending tour overseas, that he is going abroad with the"thought that if (Jreat Britain does not both agree with his policy and gi\ e him the assistance he require* in an acute difficulty then, as an international, rather than a British Commonwealth of Nations thinker he [ might turn elsewhere,"' said the Hon. Adam Hamilton, Leader of the National party, in a statement thia morning. "The quicker that Mr. Naeh forsakes that thought the quicker he will fall in line with the general aentiment of the people of the Dominion," he went on. 'New Zealand has had, and still hae, no greater friend than Britain, and there is no other country to which ehe is so closely linked in national thought. Creat Britain has always treated us with, the utmost consideration and generosity. In all our trade relations she has given ue good measure, pressed down and running over. Bitter Pill to Swallow.

Right up to and since the Ottawa Agreement Great Britain has. been the Motherland in more than name, and it is sincerely to be hoped that Mr. Nash will not be unmindful of that when he is abroad seeking aid for difficulties he himself has created," Mr. Hamilton said. 'Perhaps Mr. Nash finds it a bitter pill to swallow to-day to admit that his policy has crumbled of its own unbalance, but it would show groog miscalculation of the sentiments of the people if Mr. Nash endeavours to bluster hi« way through his difficulties with threats to British interests that he might turn to foreign interests for support." # Banger of Foreign Capital. He could not make this point too strongly at the present time, since the Dominion's financial structure was endangered, he went on. An injection of foreign capital or commitment could not lie other than fraught with dangers and difficulties. We did not want anv tinkering with our economic balain-e with the Motherland which would inevitably lead to distressing repercussions. "It is not a sufficient assurance to give lip service to British interests and in the very next breath talk of the possibilities of internationalism with an emphasis that is not in proper perspective either with our development to date or with our obligations," he concluded. "Mr. Xash has shown his inclination towards this emphasis on several occasions, and in his present dilemma it cannot be helpful to the Dominion's recovery."