NEW ZE ALAND AND THE WORLD

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22194, 10 September 1937, Page 22

NEW ZE ALAND AND THE WORLD

Imperial and Foreign Relations DIFFERENCE FROM OTHER DOMINIONS The difference between the attitudes of New Zealand and the other Dominions in Imperial and foreign relations was discussed by Mr A. J. Campbell, lecturer in history at the Christchurch Training College, in 1 an address to the Workers’ Educational Association last evening. He emphasised that New Zealand had remained more closely bound to Great Britain, constitutionally, economically, and in defence than the . other Dominions. Although New Zealand was slowly developing a distinct, national individuality, it had not come as quickly as in the other Dominions, said Mr Campbell. The other Dominions had developed towards obtaining new powers and responsibilities, and had not been content to leave things to the British Parliament. That was where New Zealand differed very much from the others, for it had not shown the same desire to get into world affairs and play its own part there. The implications of New Zealand’s separate membership of the League of Nations had meant almost nothing to Mr Massey. At the 1921 Imperial Conference he was really opposed to the other Dominions in their request for more power in Imperial affairs. That was really indicative of the position of New Zealand in these affairs, rather putting the brake on the other Dominions than leading them. All that New Zealand asked was that it should be given a voice in the internal relations of the Empire, but that when the Empire spoke it should speak with one voice. That idea of partnership rather than standing alone was more than mere words. Unwillingness to Change There were other signs of unwillingness to alter the Imperial relationship. There had, for example, been no change in the status of the GovernorGeneral. He was still the link between the Imperial Parliament and the New Zealand Parliament. New Zealand has secured exemption for the main clauses of the Statute of Westminster, until her Parliament should wish to include her. Those clauses had not yet been ratified, and even with the present Labour Government there seemed to be no intention of doing so. The Privy Council was still retained as the ultimate Court, although the other Dominions had not retained it. The reason was that if it was abandoned one of the bonds of Empire would have been weakened. New Zealand had sent no diplomatic representatives to other countries —although some of the other Dominions had done so. When It came to defence New Zealand was supremely conscious of her dependence on Britain. Though that consciousness was very strong, there ■was an Increasing willingness by New Zealand to assume responsibility for ler own defence. New Zealand was accustomed to security, and there was •a time in its history when that

security was really threatened. So both economic and financial policy had been based on that idea of security with extensive social services. The result was that it was found increasingly difficult to work into an overburdened budget any more money for defence. This again tended to Keep the Dominion closely bound to Great Britain. Economic Dependence In the economic field, however, New Zealand’s overseas relations were more important. Since the war Canada and America had raised tariff barriers against Now Zealand goods, so that there was more dependence on the English market. In 1929, Great had taken 73 per cent, of New Zealand’s exports; in 1933 the P r °P“£° n had increased to 86 per cent. So whatever happened to Britain must be important to New Zealand. Before the war 60 per cent, of imports came from Great Britain, but lately, the proportion had stabilised at about 50 Per cent. The. preference gi ve nto ß ntish goods did not mean as much as u might mean, for one reason beoiuse of the lower freights, for example, between the United States and New Zealand. Wherever there was a local industry a tariff went not only against foreign goods but also British goods. Consequently sentiment might appear to weigh with Great Britain in fixing the quotas of New Zealand goods admitted. . . Immigration also was a focal pomt “New Zealand for the New Zealanders was not yet a very strong cry in **l® Dominion. Wherever it had been posSTSfc Zealand had been willing to permit immigration. It had been confrolled purely from an point of view. Certainly, the country had not reached saturation point in population; but the lands unsettled were remote, and demanded experience which few immigrants could possess. • Labour had been hostile to immigration, but only for economic reasons. Origins of People The explanation of New Zealand’s at-, titude in these matters lay largely m the geography and the history of the country. More perhaps than anyotherDominion, New Zealand has been a transplanting of England to geographical and climatic conditions that were not very dissimilar to EngUsh conditions. From 1901 to 1932 imnugration made up 29 per cent. of the increase of population, and not until 1925 did New Zealand have its first native-born Prime Minister, The suit was that New Zealand’s links with England were not only constitutional and economic, but closely personal. There had been almost no rert ctadies with Great Britain, and New Zealand politicians in the past had made a tradition of the Imperial idea. New Zea’/nd had relations, naturally, with countries other than Great Britain. New Zealand had rejected federation with Australia in ISOO, and had no desire to be thought of as an appendix to Australia. Economically, Australia tended to be a competitor with New Zealand, and it said much for the bonds of Empire that New Zealand could be so friendly with Australia and yet so strong an economic rival. There was a tendency to co-operate with Australia in matters of defence. As the East developed, that co-operation in defence was likely to increase. Mr Campbell discussed New Zealand relations with Canada and the United States. As New Zealand became more Pacific-minded, the people of the Dominion would realise more the part the United States would play in the Pacific. Whether New Zealanders realised it or not. as the world developed they might find themselves looking to the United States for defence, and the future of the Dominion might be linked with the destiny of America. New Zealand’s relations with the East had been mainly through immigration, the Chinese being the first foreigners to come to New Zealand. That immigration had been definitely restricted by a poll tax. and lately by the requi-ement of individual permits. Economically as well as in defence New Zealand was unextricably bound up with th’e British Empire, for New Zealand could not stand on its own. With the development of the East, however; the time was coming when New Zealand must take more interest in foreign affairs.