COLOMBO PLAN ANNIVERSARY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 3

COLOMBO PLAN ANNIVERSARY

Prime Minister’s

Message

“The conception of the Colombo Plan »n 1950 marked a new and constructive approach to the problems of relations between the peoples and governments of the world,” said the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the Colombo Plan yesterday. Its remarkable progress during the 10 years since then gives pomise that the idea of co-opera-tive effort for mutual economic and social development, on which it is based, will prove to be the keynote of the second half of the 20th Century which, significantly opened the same year,” Mr Nash said.

“Linked with the tremendous advances in science and technology that are taking place around us, the world-wide acceptance that this idea has come to command may be seen by future generations as one of those historic turning-points in man's progress towards a better life.

Hopeful Development "The Colombo Plan is one of the most hopeful developments that has taken place in recent years, and the Government and people of New Zealand are proud of the part this small country has been able to play in helping to initiate and develop it,” he said.

I "Although our resources are I small compared with those of ■ larger countries, we believe that ■ the sharing of some of our techInical knowledge and material reI sources, which we have done to ■ the extent of nearly £9m up to I the present, has supported in a worthwhile way the efforts of our Asian neighbours to raise their j standards of living. “We for our part have much to learn from them, both materially i and spiritually. “By providing a vehicle for mutual help among nations on a | basis of friendly co-operation and respect, the Colombo Plan has served its members well and has become a fruitful instrument of peace, freedom and prosperity,” Mr Nash said.