“Killing Will Not Solve S.A. Problem”—Nash

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29177, 11 April 1960, Page 15

“Killing Will Not Solve S.A. Problem” —Nash

Press Association— Copyright)

SINGAPORE, April 9.

The Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr Nash) said in Singapore tonight that the problem of South Africa could not be solved by killing, when asked to comment on reports of the attempted assassination today of Dr. Verwoerd.

News of the attack was the sole topic of conversation among diplomats and Singapore Cabinet Ministers present at the airport tonight to bid farewell to Mr Nash after his two-day official visit. General reaction was one of shock and foreboding. “It solves nothing,” said Mr Nash. “We want an element of change in policy and heart aU round. If there was no Verwoerd it will not mean the problem is solved.” Mr Nash said the solution of the South African problem needed “reason, negotiation. understanding and goodwill. “You can’t solve it by killing. » he said. Mr Nash said he had hoped discussions outside the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ conference might help to improve the situation in South Africa. I could not see how, but I hoped it would.” he said. Mr Nash did not believe that as a result of today’s attempt the South African question would become a topic for discussion within the Prime Ministers’ conference.

Mr Nash later left by air for London. At a press conference earlier in the day, Mr Nash was asked for his personal views on the South African situation. He replied: "1 do not feel there are any inherently superior people in the world. There are different people, but to suggest superiority is nonsense and is bringing into being a dangerous situation. ’•Similarly there are no inherently inferior people in the world, I believe.” He said in answer to another question that he knew of no move for exclusion of South Africa from the Commonwealth. “But there has been a lot of irritation over certain recent happenings," he added. Asked for the attitude of the Government of New Zealand towards the racial policies of South Africa, he said: “We have, no attitude towards the situation within South Africa.” Questioned on the decision or the New Zealand Rugby Union to exclude Maoris from the All

Black team to visit South Africa, he said this had nothing to do with race in New Zealand, but was rather a decision to protect Maoris from possible indignities they might have suffered in South Africa.

Mr Nash said it was not a Government decision but rested with the Rugby Union. Mr Nash stressed the ease with which people who had never liyed in a country could produce solutions for its problems. “I have never lived in South Africa,” he said. “I have read about it, but never lived there. Everybody seems to know how to govern South Africa, who has never been there.”

Questioned on New Zealand’s immigration regulations relating to Asians, Mr Nash said: “It has nothing to do with race. If our doors were open to all the economic standards we have succeeded in establishing would be menaced. There is no thought of superiority involved in this. “If we admitted everybody, economically it would ruin everything we have built. This applies to whites and others.”

Questioned on the Colombo Plan, Mr Nash said that all its schemes were not necessarily economic successes, “but the alternative of friendly relations is just as good.” He cited the instance of the New Zealand-financed cement factory in Pakistan, which had produced no economic benefit for New Zealand, but provided a prospect for widened agriculture in Pakistan and friendly relations as a result between the two countries.