World Affairs And N.Z. Defence: Debate In House

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 August 1947, Page 9

World Affairs And N.Z. Defence: Debate In House

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 31. A discussion on international'‘affairs took up much of this afternoon in the House of Piepresentatives. Reports on international conferences were considered. Several speakers, including Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga) claimed that the present international situation called for an Empire conference.

“There is no use blinding our eyes to Russia’s policy of aggression,” said Mr Doidge. The policy of Russia, he said, was built ort implacable distrust of other nations. If she persisted in that policy the rest of the world would have to seek peace without her. In a review of New Zealand’s defence obligations in the Pacific, Mr Doidge claimed that the country should be told the Government’s defence plans and policy. Britain expected New Zealand to take her share of Commonwealth defence, but there was no indication for the country of what that share was to be. Many returned servicemen with high qualifications had rejected an army career because of the Government’s failure to tell the people its defence policy. Peace and Good Feeling

The Attorney-General (Mr H. G. R. Mason) discussed the Paris conference, which he attended. His summing-up was that the long and short of international relations was that there was no substitute for good feeling among the nations. Mr T. C. Webb (Opposition, Rodney) said the achievements of UNO so far were disappointing, but it was possible that people were expecting too much from it. The disappointing thing was that some nations did not seem to realise their responsibilities. The Minister of Finance (Mr _W. Nash) said that in spite of the difficulties of the last two years the world ought not to despair of the results which could be achieved. World Government? He questioned if in fact the world was ready for self-government or world government. Although reports of the proceedings of the Security Council and various UNO committees gave rise sometimes to a sense of annoyance, it must be realised that the more achievement of peace did not mean that mankind would automatically live peacefully. A public conference was to be convened soon to consider ways to help Britain, said Mr Nash. In addition the House should consider the position of Britain in the post-war world —economically, politically, and so>cially—and the best means by which New Zealand might help hei.

COINAGE CHANGE WILL SAVE N.Z. £llB,OOO A YEAR WELLINGTON, July 31. “There is a story behind this,” said the Minister of Finance (Mr W. Nash», in the House of Representatives this evening. He was referring to a clause in the Finance Bill authorising cupronickel coinage. , T zMr Nash said that the United Kingdom Government had to return to the United States Government or pay for 88 000,000 ounces of silver. Some of the silver was used in the coinage New Zealand purchased from the mint and New Zealand had a responsibility to return 1,300,000 ounces of the 88,000,000. The pricemf silver was 4s 71d when the decision was made to make cupronickel coins, and now the price was 3s Bd. That was a big advantage and would enable the United Kingdom Government to collect its silver and return it or buy silver at a lower price because the demand for it was not so great as it was. The chances were that silver would be returned to the United States Government.

Bv using cupro-nickel, New Zealand would save a fair amount ,of money, said Mr Nash. Coins in circulation in Now Zealand amounted in value to £4,000,000. When cupronickel was in use, the saving would be £1.200,000. ‘■•That is rather good,” Mr Nash said. “We want all the money we can get.” Mr W. S. Goosman (Opposition): Piako): The Minister cannot water it down further. Mr Nash said that if New Zealand could get a coin that was durable, had the appearance New Zealand wanted, and was acceptable to everybody, he would not argue the matter for a moment. He said New Zealand had been buying an average of £270,000 worth of silver coins a year. Now, because of the fall in the price of silver, it could buy the same coins for £ 129,600. If cupro-silver was used the cost would be only £lO.BOO, and would save the country £llB,OOO. Mr W. Sullivan (Opposition, Bay of Plenty): But they will buy just as little. • . Mr Nash: Yes, but it could just as truly be said that they will buy just as mtichi . * .