MR NASH’S WORK PRAISED

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23915, 6 April 1943, Page 4

MR NASH’S WORK PRAISED

WELCOME GIVEN AT AUCKLAND MINISTER SPEAKS OF POST WAR TASKS (P.A.) AUCKLAND. April 5. On his return to the Dominion after an absence of a little more than a yean,; the Hon. W. Nash, New Zealand Minister to the United States, was welcomed by the Mayor of Auckland (Mr J, A. C. Allum) at an informal ceremony in the Auckland Town Hall. Mr Nash was met on his arrival in the afternoon by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), and the assembly at the function included the Minister of Armed Forces and War Co-ordination (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates), the Minister of Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb), the Minister of Transport (the Hon. J. O’Brien), members of the Legislature, and representatives of the armed forces, local bodies, and other civic authorities.

On behalf of the citizens, the Mayor welcomed Mr Nash and assured him of their appreciation of the statesman, like manner in which he had carried out his duties in Washington. “From reports to hand it is clear that you have always kept New Zealand’s outstanding contribution to the great task which lies before us ever in the forefront,” added the Mayor.

The Prime Minister said that he had seen Mr Nash carrying out his duties in Washington and could assure the New Zealand people that they could have no belter or more capable representative. Mr Nash had been just as much at home in Washington as he was in Wellington. He had established an excellent relationship with the authorities in Washington who controlled the destinies of the American people. Mr Nash said he had gone to Washington as an ordinary diplomat, and among his purposes had been one to interpret New Zealand to the American people. He believed he had achieved some little success in telling the United States what New Zealanders were doing in the war. His task had been made simpler by the renown and deeds of the New Zealand Division in the Middle East. When he spoke of the achievements of those men and the men in the naval services and in the air forces, he\ had something to talk about. It was his desire, he added, to get this war over as soon as possible, so that a start could be made with the rebuilding of'the world. It would then be a matter of all the nations getting together, and it would be criminal if those who had fought side by side could not agree to work on world reconstruction with similar aims.

It was the duty of even a small country such as New Zealand to play its part in that. Even now New Zealand ought to be getting together with Russia and with China, in conjunction with the United States. It would not be possible for the great English-speak-ing races of the United States and the British Empire to dominate the world after victory was won. Even if that were thought desirable, that could not be done without risk of another war arising as a consequence. In finding a solution for the relations among the nations there might be found a greater and harder task than that of winning the war now being fought.