MR FRASER ADMITS POLITICAL FAILING: IDEAL AND PRACTICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 September 1947, Page 7

MR FRASER ADMITS POLITICAL FAILING: IDEAL AND PRACTICE

(Rec. 11.30 a.m./' CANBERRA, This Day.

“In the prayer that is read in the House of Representatives in Wellington, there is a plea for the laying aside of prejudices and partial affections, said the New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in a closing speech to the Empire Conference on Japan. “That is a very difficult thing to do. I am afraid that the members, of the House will never be able to live up to it. I confess that I, personally, have never risen to that height. I believe that at this conference we have come nearer to that ideal than we have ever done before and that we shall go away inspired. “When I was asked in the New Zealand Parliament, ‘What are you going to speak about? What is your atttitude to be?’ I replied: ‘I cannot say. I have some idea what ,are the feelings of the other Dominions and the Mother Country.’ “When I return I shall be able to say that the general concensus of opinion was: ‘I shall certainly report that my experience has been most valuable and that we are indebted to the. Australian Government for having called the conference, for the efficiency of the arrangements it has made, for the cordiality of its welcome and the overwhelming nature of its hospitality, and for having set the keynote of our • deliberations. Inside the boundaries of Cairo, Yalta and Potsdam we have shown that a lot of good can be done.’ ”