PARLIAMENT Dutch Defended In Debate On Foreign Affairs

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 August 1947, Page 4

PARLIAMENT Dutch Defended In Debate On Foreign Affairs

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 14. Germany today held a place in the world which was partly ■ a vacuum, round which were two rival hostile, and mutually exclusive ideologies, said Mr R. M. Algie (Opposition, Remuera) in a foreign affairs debate in the House of Representatives this evening. The Germans were an energetic, forceful, efficient race, and it would be only self-delusion to think they could be kept under the heel for an indefinite period. He believed that for the peace of the world Germany would have to be rebuilt and that for the sake of the world they would have to fill the vacuum with the Christian ideology of the West. The introduction of this ideology would not be easy because there was another ideology which was as well-organised and as powerful, and some day would be as efficient as our own, but which in many ways was ruthless and less scrupulous.

Direct Conflict

Every one of the five lesser peace treaties already signed was Tn direct conflict with a leading principle of the Atlantic Charter, which was that no territorial changes should be made unless with the consent of those to be governed. There had been no plebiscite taken on changes of boundaries and of population. He believed the world would recover from the clash of rival ideologies because good would ultimately triumph. Mr C. G. Harker (Opposition, Hawke’s Bay) said New Zealand’s policy on international affairs should not be influenced by pressure groups or by the agitations of those lacking the necessary knowledge and information to judge a problem correctly. New Zealand’s old Allies, the Dutch, had been colonists in Indonesia for nearly 300 years. New Zealanders had been a mere century in New Zealand and would not like to be told by groups of trade unionists or others that they had no right to be in New Zealand because It had not always been their country. Impertinence Alleged

It was impertinence for groups in New Zealand to attempt to interfere in the domestic affairs of their loyal allies, he added. Mr H. E. Combs (Government, Onslow): Is not the relative population of Indonesians and Dutch a factor?

Mr Harker:. Yes, but only a factor. Reply to the debate, the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) said he hoped in the next few days to set up a foreign affairs committee, but it was obvious that such a committee could not be given access to all documents and secret and confidential communications. In an ideal world all documents would be thrown open but they were a' long way from that.

PROTECTION FOR PASSENGERS: BILL INTRODUCED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Passengers’ Protection Bill, introduced by Dr A. M. Finlay (Government, North Shore) and read a first time in the House of Representatives this morning, provides that alter the passing of the Bill any passenger who has suffered loss or damage to person or property by reason of any negligence on the part of a carrier, his servants or agents shall be entitled to maintain an action for damages, notwithstanding any condition, expressed or implied, in his contract with the carrier and notwithstanding that any ticket or other document evidencing such contract may have been signed by him. No such condition shall be pleaded in the bar of any such action for damages.

Nothing in the Bill shall derogate from the provisions of any Act or regulations as to the amount of liability of the carrier. A carrier means any person, body corporate or unincorporated society with whom a passenger has in New Zealand entered into a contract for the transport of himself by land, sea or air, from any place in New Zealand to another place in New Zealand. The Bill will bind the Crown. Dr Finlay suggested the second reading next Wednesday.

SUGGESTED LABOUR PRESS LEVY ON UNION MEMBERS ’ (P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. When the House of Representatives met this morning, Mr Watts (Oppn., St. Albans) gave notice to ask the Prime Minister if, in view of the present application to the Arbitration Court for an increase in wages to all workers under awards because of the rise in the cost of living, the Government approved of the practice of certain trade unions in attempting to pass resolutions forcing a levy upon their members, many of whom were not supporters of the Labour Party but who were all required by law to be members of a union, for the purpose of taking up further shares in NeW . Zealand Labour Newspapers, Ltd. Mr Watts said he had in his possession a notice from a union secretary to members, giving notice of motion to impose a levy of 5s per member for the purpose stated.