LEASE-LEND POLICY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23812, 4 December 1942, Page 6

LEASE-LEND POLICY

INFORMATION SOUGHT

Information on how lease-lend is operating and on the application of reverse lease-lend, will be sought by the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce from the Associated Chambers.

Mr S. O. Dillon raised the subject at the council’s meeting last evening. He suggested that the chamber should get information on what the lease-lend position really was. He thought it time the people of New Zealand were told just what it meant, and that an explanation of its working be obtained, particularly the application of reverse lease-lend. On the one hand the Government was calling for funds to finance the war, and on the other hand one heard about lease-lend. If the people were given information on the subject, it would create more confidence in what was being done to-day. Mr V. C. Mathews seconded the suggestion, with the addition that Associated Chambers of Commerce be asked for the information.

Mr A. 6. Heany (secretary of Associated Chambers) said that he had had no recent information. The Government might give more information if it wished, but to what extent the subject was held in secrecy, Government to Government, he did not know.

Mr Dillon said that the business people of the country Should know something about the subject. The average man in this country knew nothing of lease-lend developments, and he for one was not ashamed to admit it. Money was wanted for the war, of course, but what the people panted .. to know was how lease-lend would be appltectrln levelling out the war. detfta ot'tfte' country. • -Mr H. S, .Wiihams: If the Government told us I do not think we would understand it. Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon said it was a delicate .subject, and he could not see how the Government could supply details of reverse lease-lend at the moment. He thought the matter should not have been in open meeting. The decision to seek information was passed after a vote.