“Great Future Ahead For Commonwealth”

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28766, 11 December 1958, Page 27

“Great Future Ahead For Commonwealth”

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 10.

As long as faith in the new Commonwealth was not allowed to perish, then it, with the United states and other freedom-loving nations, would see in the days ahead conditions and improvements beyond the expectation of those today whose responsibility it was to give leadership, said the Prime Minister of Canada (Mr John Diefenbaker) replying to a toast of welcome at a State luncheon in his honour at Parliament House today.

The toast was proposed by the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) who was supported by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holyoake). Each paid a tribute to Canada’s contribution in World War II and to the assistance she gave New Zealand in the war years. Mr Nash referred to Canada’s leading role in the United Nations and the effect of Canadian thought and action on the smaller

nations of the world. “I am proud to think that at times our thoughts and policies fit so closely into Canada’s,” he said. “New Zealand and Canada have a close tie-up, particularly in international affairs, because they think as closely as any two countries can.”

Mr Holyoake welcomed Mr Diefenbaker as a “champion of freedom and democracy” and said he and Canada had a tremendous influence in the Commonwealth and throughout the world. Mr Diefenbaker was a man with a mission, he said, imbued with the ideals of Commonwealth. • Purpose of Tour In reply, Mr Diefenbaker said he was looking forward to placing before the people of Canada the impressions he had gained on his Commonwealth and world visit, the purpose of which was to learn something of what was going on in the Commonwealth countries, the changes which were taking place in the old Commonwealth and the developments in the new. New Zealand had given a lead to the Commonwealth in racial tolerance, equality and liberty, he continued, and that example was a principle which was greatly needed in the world tody. Indeed. it was the “No. 1 principle” for the Commonwealth. The time had come, he believed, when it was necessary to define something of the meaniig of the Commonwealth, which had been brought about by the exercise of humanity, wisdom and common sense, and converted into an “improbable partnership united in disunity, united without uniformity.” Responsibilities In the evolution of the Commonwealth and in the development of the new, horizons had been raised and countries had come to recognise that they had the responsibility to raise the standards of others lower than their own. Saying that. Canada had raised its annual contribution to the Colombo Plan from 38 million dollars a year to 50 million dollars, Mr Diefenbaker said he had frequently been asked during his tour what Canada stood to gain by her contributions and what was the hidden purpose in the plan. “All I could say was this: we and other countries in the Commonwealth and also the United States, recognise the responsibilities of each other to the other,” he said. “If communism is to be met, we have to realise that nations Cannot be permitted to live -and undernourished. We have to increase the opportunities for the underprivileged everywhere.” During, his tour he had formed the opinion that the future of the Commonwealth and its appointment with greater opportunities, its expansion and development, would ultimately rest on the degree of co-operation between the Asian coiin tries within the Commonwealth, continued Mr Diefenbaker, There was a- uniform realisation that all had the same objective—to.join together in a spirit of inter-dependence. Need For Trade There was also, however, the need to adhere to the belief that expanding trade and an expanding Commonwealth would give flesh to the skeleton of the organisation. By mutual trade and raising the standards of living in Commonwealth countries. the success of that belief would be assured. Mr Diefenbaker made passing reference to trade between Canada and New Zealand and said that some thought Canada had not gone as far as New Zealand would like. But tariffs on meat imports from New Zealand had been frozen and that should allow trade to grow considerably in the future. He said he was not of the school which thought that the future was dark for the Commonwealth and he did not believe that the Commonwealth was approaching its end. “We have a mandate for freedom for all mankind in the Commonwealth,” he said. “We have shown that the Commonwealth has brought together all peoples and all beliefs. Now we need further courage and vision to service the great future before us, and faith to see that our great plans are carried out.”