IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27985, 4 June 1956, Page 16

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

Sir, —“The Press” accuses me of “following a now familiar party line.’’ The National Party line? Mr Holland has mentioned “the great responsibility that is ours to ensure that the way of life that our forebears have passed on to us, the British way of life, is preserved intact.’’ The Labour Party line? Mr Holloway (Heretaunga) said: “One of the first things we must do is to give Britain our utmost support in demanding that the subversive tactics of American private interests are not permitted to undermine the benefits of the British Commonwealth and its future.’’ The Social Credit Party line? Mr Owen said: “No Dominion government had been given a mandate to commit New Zealand to membership of the fund, the G.A.T.T., or approval of the Bretton Woods Agreement.’’ Whatever my line, given equal space and prominence, it will tie up your leader-writer. —Yours, etc.,. GEO. M. EDMONDS. June 3, 1955. [lt is very curious that successive British governments, which must be no less anxious than Mr Edmonds to preserve “The British way of life,’’ have approved the aims of the I.M.F. and G.A.T.T.. and have regarded Britain’s membership as not only beneficial but essential to British interests.—Ed., “The Press.”l