GENEVA EXPENSES

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 59, 2 December 1933, Page 6

GENEVA EXPENSES

Is New Zealand’s Share Too High?

EFFORT FOR REDUCTION

Complaint that a vote of £IS,OOO as New Zealand’s proportion of the secretariat expenses of the League of Nations seemed unduly large, was made by Mr. W. J. Polson (Govt., Stxfltford) during a discussion on the Estimates in the House of Representatives yesterday.

“Our hopes of reaping any benefit from Geneva have been disappointed,’ Mr Polson said. sum of £1350 foi tlie expenses of the delegate to Geneva, and £lB,OOO as out- proportion of the secretariat expenses, is far too high for this country. It is an amount we cannot afford, particularly in times like these. W.e would not have grudged it had Geneva been yielding any material results." “It seems obvious to me that we cannot afford not to continue our association with the League of Nations,” said Mr. P. Fraser (Lab., Wellington Central).' “Tlie only hope for tlie world lies in Geneva.” Mr. Polson: It is a mighty poor one. Mr. Fraser: Well, then, God help tlie hon. member and me, too. If Geneva fails it will mean wholesale war and massacre. Another war would mean an aeroplane fleet here—heaven knows what it would mean. Finally, it would mean—and this is the one redeeming feature—that non-combat-ants would be in danger, too. There would be no more of the olcljnen cheering on the young ones leaving for the slaughter. The whole lot would be liable, and rightly so, if they haven’t the sense to avoid it. The Prim® Minister. Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said he did not think there were any two questions in regard to New Zealand being a member of the League of Nations. That position was accepted by the House and by the country generally. The Dominion was doing its best to assist in the cause of pence. Unfortunately several countries which were members of the League did not pay the'ir subscriptions, and this placed an extra burden on the others. It was characteristic of British countries that when they undertook an obligation they could be relied man to fulfil it. Some other countries, it seemed, were not as scrupulous.

Mr. Forbes said that when he was in London the question of the Geneva expenses was raised by the representatives of the Dominion, and also by the British delegates. A thorough overhaul had been urged. He had met. the new secretary of the League, and pointed out that New Zealand was concerned about its proportion, which had increased from £BOOO to £IS,OOO over a period of years. The secretary had given him an assurance that ho was determined to keep the cost within reasonable bounds.

“We have done our best in urging that this matter should receive serious attention,” added Mr. Forbes.