DOMINION TAKES FULL SHARE IN WORLD AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 26136, 25 June 1947, Page 6

DOMINION TAKES FULL SHARE IN WORLD AFFAIRS

In addressing the' members of both Houses at the opening of his speech, the Governor-General said: “ It affords •me much pleasure to meet you at the opening of the first session of the Parliament. I have been privileged since I last addressed 1 you to visit many parts of New Zealand, and I have observed with profound satisfaction the deep spirit of loyalty which animates the people, Maori and pakeha alike.' ' ’ ‘ v “Among the nations of the world the past year has been marked by great activity directed toward the settlement of post-war problems. Upon these settlements will be based the possibilities of peace and progress for the coming years. My Government, conscious of the importance to New Zealand of these international understandings, and in. the belief that this country can and must contribute towards the establishment of world peace and the welfare of the peoples, has; taken advantage of New Zealand’s right to join the vic-torious-Allied Nations in making the, peaoe settlements, and has accepted its responsibilities to participate in the deliberations of the United Naions and its associated bodies. During the last year New Zealand was represented at maiiy international meetings. -These will ibe the subject of report to Parliament by my Minister of External Affairs. HONOUR TO DOMINION.

“ New Zealand has been elected for a.three-year term to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, which is responsible for promoting international economic and social co-ope-ration. This country’s election to the council may be regarded not only as an honour to New Zealand and a recognition of its contribution to international economic and social well-being, but also as a measure of the responsibility which rests upon the Dominion in these matters. “The fourth session of the councilwas attended by my Minister of Finance and Customs, who then pro-, ceeded to London and Genera to lead the New Zealand delegation during the discussions on the multi-lateral tariff agreements and the proposed charter for an international trade organisation. My Attorney-General led the New Zealand delegation to the Conference of Paris, which considered the peace treaties with Italy, Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland. The treaties as finally drafted were signed on behalf of New Zealand on February 10. last. Legislation to authorise my Government'to give effect to certain provisions of the peace treaties will be proposed for Parliament’s approval._ My Government has also given consideration to the peace settlements with Germany and Japan, which will probably be brought closer to finality in the coming year.,. SMALL POWERS’ RIGHTS. “ It has been necessary to emphasise with some effect that the peace settlements should not be dictated to the other Allies by the Great Powers, but that countries which contributed as much proportionately to the Allied war effort should be fully associated with the drafting of the treaties, i In expressing New Zealand’s.views upon the control and future of Japan, my advisers have placed great emphasis upon the need to secure now and enforce for the future the most thorough-going disarmament of a country which has for long been the chief menace to New Zealand’s security. It is expected that discussions upon the Japanese settlement will shortly take place in Canberra among the countries of the British Commonwealth, preparatory to the wider International Peace Conference. “ My Government’s efforts -in conjunction with the Government of Australia to secure, regional co-operation to promote the raising of living, stanards in non-self-governing territories in the Pacific resulted in the signing of an agreement by the United Kingdom, the United States. France, the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand establishing a South Pacific Commission. The report of the New Zealand delegation to this conference, indicating the further action which will be necessary, will be laid before Parliament. ISLAND DEPENDENCIES.

“ My Ministers have continued 'to watch over the well-being of the island dependencies. The need for associating the people of the Cook Islands in a greater measure of responsibility in the government of the group has been met by the formation of the Legislative Council of the Cook Islands at the meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations, and on the initiative of my Government an agreement was reached to bring Western Samoa under the 'trusteeship provisions of the United Nations Charter. The terms of this agreement will be laid before you/ In • consequence of this change in the status of Western Samoa it will probably be necessary to ask Parliament to amend the Samoa Act, 1921.”