SPEECH BY MR DIEFENBAKER

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28766, 11 December 1958, Page 25

SPEECH BY MR DIEFENBAKER

“Commonwealth New And Vital”' (New Zealand Press Assodationi> * DUNEDIN, December 10. “The Commonwealth is not a spent force,” the Prime Minister of Canada (Mr J. G. said at a civic luncheon in his honour. About 250 of Dunedin’s learning citizens applauded when <he said: “We are today living hx 4 a new and vital Common weaUh with a new concept that; harf, a message of peace and brotherhood to all mankind. “There is something to a organisation such as ours that?has a message to all. The people in Asia are beginning to realis<e—mainly through the Colombo Plan that each Comon wealth member has a responsibility others,” he said. “None of us has the right.v4o be rich just because someone Mlse is poor.” One thing the Colombo T?an, which now extended outside tihe Commonwealth, was ing, was the greater underetanding between distant couhtiries through student exchange, he slid. Mr and Mn Diefenbafcer arrived in Wellington later today. They are staying at Government House as guests uf the Governor-General (Viseormt Cjdbham) and Lady Cobham. Mr and Mrs Diefenbaker will leave Government House by fear on Thursday morning for Oha'faea, Tokaanu and Warakei, where they will stay for three d-tiys, leaving Auckland next Mnnriaytam. their return flight to Canada. I