New Zealand Will Stand By British Commonwealth

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 14788, 29 September 1948, Page 3

New Zealand Will Stand By British Commonwealth

Grim Warnings By Prime Minister

Forces Working To Dominate World

(P.A.) Wellington, Sept. 28. "I go to attend the two conferences loaded with a sense of responsibility and fully cognisant of the blackness of some of the problems. If there is anything that can be done to promote peace and harmony and to protect all democracies then in the name of this country I will support it. If there is any resistance to be made by those forces which seek to dominate the world, the voice of New Zealand will be raised against it," said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, in the House of Representatives tonight on the eve of his departure for overseas. Speaking with great vigour and force for nearly an hour and a-half, the Prime Minister issued some grim warnings on the implications behind the present international situation. He said that New Zealand would stand by. the United Kingdom and the rest of the British Commonwealth in maintaining the present attitude over the Berlin dispute, and in any other circumstances that might arise. Whatever the difficulties were, there would be no surrender and no retreat.

Mr Fraser again promised to refer the question of national service to Parliament and the people. He added that he had.no doubt about the decision of the people on this issue.

"We have seen these forces sweeping through Europe and even in our own country we find those who have initiated a spurious campaign against national service_ before Parliament has considered it. I propose to have an opportunity of discussing it with Parliament and the people,- because I believe that the people, by overwhelming numbers, will say that they are prepared to serve to the very utmost for their country.

"We find people trying to use others with high principles and good motives to keep our country defenceless. At the same time they support the one country that has no hesitation in imposing ruthless conscription on its people. It is just as untenable as it is silly. The people may have to be asked for their direct opinion on national service and I have no doubt as to what their response will be.