MR NASH'S VISIT TO RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22198, 15 September 1937, Page 10

MR NASH'S VISIT TO RUSSIA

PRESENCE IN MOSCOW ON MAY DAY MR POLSON’S QUESTIONS MINISTER DENIES ATTENDING CONFERENCE [From Our Parliamentary Reporter! WELLINGTON, September 14. Curiosity about the circumstances in which the Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) had visited Russ'a during his recent nvssion abo d was shown by Mr W. J. Poison (National, Stratford), when speaking in the Imprest Supply B 11 debate in the House of Representatives to-night. He said that (he Minister had attended a c-in-ference in that country on May Day, hut this was denied by Mr Nash in an interjection. Mr Poison said he hud never at any time suggested that the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M J. Savage) was not entitled to do all the gaud he could at Home. He thought the Prime Minister had represented this country worthily and well, and congratulated him on that. The triy of the Minister for Labour (the Hon. 11. T. Armstrong) was probably a good investment—a good investment if he succeeded in teaching the rest of the world as much as he attempted to teach it at Geneva. Referring to the Minister for Finance, Mr Poison said he d d not til ink the results of his mission were likely to be worth the money expended on the lour. In liis opinion, the Minster stayer) too long away. The Minister travelled f. . and talked a lot, and what did he achieve? asked Mr Poison. It was true that Mr Nash had delivered u good many addresses, including some sermons, and good ones, 100. According to the published reports, the Minister had delivered a sermon m a New Zealand church in London, where he spoke of the regimentation of the individual as the antithesis of Christianity. Having said that, the Minster had gone to Moscow. “I don’t know what the Minister went to Moscow for,” said Mr-Poison. "I don't know whether he went there for trade, parlicu'arly on May Day. but I want to ask why he alone of Brill; hj Ministers went to Russia on that day, (lie day appointed by the 'third international of Soviets as a day of jubilation.” Limits of D scussion At this stage Mr Speaker interrupted Mr Poison and pointed out to him that although (he limits in an imprest supply debate were very wide, he thought the member for Stratford was excaedi. g those limits. Mr Poison: I am discussing the cost ef (he Mini tor’s trip abroad. Mr Speaker: I think: you have gone a little beyond that, and that you arc discussing the mints or demerits of the Minister’s trip to Russia. Mr Poison; Had the Minister paid ;.ik own expenses, it would have been liiUfei'onl. The Minister attended a conference in Russia at the expense of the taxpayers ef this country. Mr Nash: I attended no conference. Mr Poison: I am glad to hear that. Mr Nash: No conference was held while 1 was there. Mr Poison: That is peculiar, because there was a con.crenee that day. Government numbers: Apologise. Mr Prison: I will not apologise. Sir Walter C.trine, of the British Trades Un.o.i Congress, advised the trades union rcprcsjntaf.vcs in Great Bri.ain not to attend the conference. I should be able to criticise the trip of anv Min.ster who goes anywhere at the expense of the country. Mr Nash; Speak the truth while doing it. , , Mr Poison: I have merely suggested that the Min.ster was in Russia at '.lie l.me of the conference, and I want to ijimv the facts. Mr Na hj; 1 attended no conference. Mr Poison: The Minister tells me he attended no conference, and I accept that statement. Coni.ruling, Mr Poison said that Mr Nasif bad gone abroad witn an offer to spend the whole of the proceeds aom the sale of Now Zoaiand produce in Great Britain in that country. He would like to know the result of the mimslcr's negotiations in ihat connexion, for it had boon staled that he hud tailed in Uiat mission.