PAYING FOR PEACE

Evening Star, Issue 20570, 23 August 1930, Page 12

PAYING FOR PEACE

i DOMINION'S SHARE OF GOST | | LEAGUE OF NATIONS VOTE [From Our Pakuamektart Exporter.] WELLINGTON, August 23. •The vote of £IO,IBO towards the expenses of the League of Nations was an item in the Prime Minister’s departmental ’ estimates which caused a brief discussion in the House to-day. Questions were asked regarding the method of assessment, and it was explained by Mr Forbes that the League’s contributories were assessed in proportion. There was a total of 986 units, and Nov; Zealand counted as 10, Australia '27.' the United, Kingdom 1.40, Canada 60, Italy 60; and the total budget’ was 38,210,000 gold francs. A Member: How much is that';

The Prime Minister: “5.570,000 dollars.'’ (Laughter.) Ho added in. response to another general, inquiry; “ How much is Hint P a suggestion that if members divided it by five they would find it .something over a million sterling. New Zealand’s actual payment last year was £10,185, and tho present vote £IO,IBO. ■ yf,. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) remarked that there appeared to bo a heavy expenditure on the travelling allowances of the League officers, but if they wore occupied in explaining tho objects of the' League, with its aim of preventing war, it was money well spent, especially if they concentrated on tho more bellicose nations. Mr Waito (Clutha) hoped it would not lie said that Parliament objected to New Zealand’s expenditure of £lO,000 on tho League of,.Nations. Personally, if tho League spent anything up to five millions .in endeavouring to prevent war, it would not be too much. Labour Members: “What has como over you?” (Laughter.) Mr Waite replied that ho was concerned about adequate defence, but ho regarded tho League of Nations as a valuable organisation. It was quite separate from tho League of Nations Union, which sent lecturers around the world, and was a voluntary organisation, maintained on guinea subscriptions. He hoped the Labour members duly paid tboir guinea. (Laughter.) If New Zealand boro its share of the work of the League of Nations in endeavouring to ensure the peace of tho world its expenditure was not a bit too mucli. . The Prime Minister explained that the dominion had .no’control over the amount of tho League’s expenditure. Its proportion was officially allocated and New, Zealand was notified of the amount it had to pay. ,