UNO SANCTIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 August 1946, Page 2

UNO SANCTIONS

DOMINION TO TAKE POWER OF . - ENFORCEMENT

LAUGHTER IN THE HOUSE

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 6. Power to make regulations enforcing any form of sanctionsOVhich New Zealand might be called upon to carry out at the request of the United Nations is conferred by the United Nations Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives tonight. The bill gives authority for the Governor-General-in-Council to make regulations to enable New Zealand to fulfil obligations undertaken by the Dominion under article 41 of the Charter of the United Nations. This article states: “The Security Council may decide what measures not involving the use of armed force are to be employed to give effect to its decisions, and it may call upon members of the United Nations to apply such measures. These may include the complete or partial interruption of economic relations, and of rail, sea, air, postal, . telegraphic, radio, and other means of communications, and the severance of diplomatic relations.”

The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) told the House that the bill was very similar to one passed in 1935 in regard to our obligations to impose sanctions as a member of the League of Nations. It was necessary to provide . for the making of regulations because, although it was obvious that if Parliament were in session it would be consulted on such a matter, provision must be made for the situation that might arise when the House was in recess.

An - Opposition member: Economic sanctions? Mr. Fraser: Yes.

Mr. F. W. Doidge (Oppn, Tauranga): The waterside workers will make that decision for you.

Mr. Fraser said watersiders worked hard and often had disagreeable work to do, but he did not think all of them were experts in foreign policy. He thought that reason would prevail and these things would adjust themselves. No section of the community could dictate to the Government concerning foreign policy and none had. (Opposition laughter ). Mr. Fraser said no section could dictate to the Government so long as the Government remained strong. (Renewed laughter). HOUSE TO ADJOURN FOR A WEEK . (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 6. The Budget will be presented in the House of Representatives on Thursday of next week, and the adjournment of the House will be only for one week, from 5.30 p.m. tb-mor-row, instead of a fortnight as had been suggested last evening. There is; some speculation in the lobbies as' to why the Government declined to adjourn for a longer period, particularly as-no statement was made on that point by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser). A possible reason is that the complicated arrangements necessary for an alteration in the sales tax and customs duties are already so far advanced that the dale of the Budget could not conveniently be altered.

It may be only a coincidence that the date now set’for the Budget, August 15, coincides with one of the bimonthly dates on which tobacco is distributed to retailers. However, this gives rise to the belief that there may be some reduction in the duty on tobacco, which was increased in 1942 with the effect that the retail price of tobacco rose by 5d an ounce and that of cigarettes by 2d a packet.