MR JORDAN AT GENEVA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22443, 2 July 1938, Page 16

MR JORDAN AT GENEVA

ATTITUDE DEFENDED BY MR FRASER

NEW ZEALAND’S DUTY AS A SOVEREIGN STATE

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, July 1,

The recent stand taken at the League of Nations at Geneva by the High Commissioner for New Zealand (Mr W. J. Jordan) was defended by the Minister-for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) during the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Fraser said he never felt prouder of anyone speaking in the name of democracy of the Dominion than when he read of the stand made by Mr Jordan. New Zealand, said Mr Fraser, had responsible Government, and had to make up its own mind as a sovereign country. The Dominion Government worked in close association with the British Government, but it was not prepared to swallow everything that the latter pnt forward. “We are putting forward the principles on which we were elected,” said Mr Fraser. “Loyalty to the League of Nations was put forward by all three parties at the last General Election. Whatever the circumstances, I hope that the High Commissioner will not hesitate for a moment. The Government will not hesitate to stand for democracy.” The Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. A. Hamilton); Does the British Government not stand for democracy? Mr Fraser: It is our job to interpret the right stand for New, Zealand, and we are sticking to that position.