Report From The Capital Conjecture Over Russian Minister’s Recall

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 October 1947, Page 2

Report From The Capital Conjecture Over Russian Minister’s Recall

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT) WELLINGTON, This Day. The recent recall of the first Soviet Minister to New Zealand, M. Ziabkin, and now the announcement by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, that New Zealand’s Minister to the Soviet Union, Mr C. W. Boswell, is to return to the Dominion in the summer months have given rise to all sorts of speculations. I can state authoritatively, after talking with the Soviet Charge d’Affaires, M. Ermoshin, and with highly placed officials in Wellington, that there is absolutely no foundation to rumours that diplomatic relations will be severed between the two countries.

Mystery still surrounds the recall of M. Ziabkin, and such is the determination of M. Ermoshin to give nothing away that it is likely to remain a secret.

When I talked with him I asked him a straightforward question, “Has a successor to M. Ziabkin yet been appointed?” His reply was “I do not know.” When asked if M. Ziabkin had reached Moscow yet, M. Ermoshin replied that so far as he knew his Minister and Mrs Ziabkin reached London several days ago and their future movements were unknown. About the only concrete fact obtained from the interview was in reply to a question whether the Soviet would continue to be represented in New Zealand and whether another Minister would be sent to replace M. Ziabkin. M. Ermoshin replied “Yes, certainly, but I do not know who or whom.” Further inquiries in Wellington revealed that Mr Boswell is likely to return in February. During his absence, the first secretary of the Legion, Mr D. P. Costello, will act as Charge D’Affaires. One of the official reasons for Mr Boswell’s return, is to be given home leave, but it is known that he will report personally to the Prime Minister and to the Cabinet. He will also appear before the newly appointed foreign affairs and commonwealth committee of the House of Representatives. This committee consists of five Government and four Opposition members. For at least three years, the Opposition has been pressing for the publication of Mr Boswell’s reports, and it is obvious that the Prime Minister intends to forestall further criticism by having Mr Boswell report, in camera, his impressions of Russia. The only real speculation which can arise out of Mr Boswell’s return is whether he will return to Moscow. Like other overseas diplomats, Mr Boswell was appointed for three years, and it is significant that this period will elapse early next year. FARMERS’ DRIVE

Little publicity has been given to a Dominion-wide drive being organised by the Federated Farmers of New Zealand under which a personal canvass is being made of every individual farmer to see what are the chances of increased production on 'individual farms. The head office of the organisation dn Wellington has issued a questionnaire to every farmer, whether he is a member or not, asking him by how much he can increase production, what difficulties he must overcome to. attain his increase and what “catch” crops he can plant to provide additional supplementary feed. The questionnaires are to be returned to Wellington before October 11. Even more encouraging than this survey is a definite indication of growing co-operation between the farmers and the trades unions—-for too long sworn enemies. The Farmers’ Federation has taken the initiative, and one of their officers attends union meetings in Wellington regularly. For instance, he is to attend a stop-work meeting of the watersiders next week to explain the farmers’ problems and to ask for the co-operation of the watersiders in speeding shipments of produce. On the other side of the picture, there is the little-known fact that Mr A. W. Croskery, president of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, attends all meetings of the production committee of the Farmers’ Federation. Already, the results are described as “entirely satisfactory.” Another encouraging fact is the decision by the New Zealand Workers’ Union whereby sheep shearers have agreed to work longer hours than those specified in their award during the coming season. The award lays down a maximum of 44 hours a week, but under the new arrangement shearers have agreed to work 48 hours a week in view of the acute shortage of shearers. A letter sent to the Federated Farmers by Mr L. C. Hair, general secretary of the Union, states that in conceding this point, the union did not endeavour to make it a bargaining point by requesting other concessions' for its members who were employed in shearing sheds. Farmers who are concerned about the delivery of fertilisers will be pleased to learn that manufacturers report that their employees are working up to four nights a week overtime. All the labour asked for at three works had been found and additional labour had been found for other works. These facts were revealed from a call at the Aid-to-Britain Committee, which is doing a great deal of work behind the scenes. It was also found that the workers at the Hornby fertiliser works in Christchurch were prepared to work at week ends to get extra fertilisers out to farmers early in the season. CARGO COMMITTEES

A Government announcement can be expected shortly of its decision to re-estabiish by regulations the wartime cargo control committees at the main ports in New Zealand. During the war these committees were set up to expedite the handling of cargo. They consisted of 10 members representing chambers of commerce, grain and seed merchants, the Railways Department, the Customs Department, the Ministry of Supply, carriers ’ associations, harbour boards and the Waterfront Industry Comsion. Their task was to prevent congestion in wharf and railway sheds and the committees functioned successfully in Auckland, Wellington and Lyttelton. The committees were set up under the Cargo Control Emergency Regulations, 1942, but these were revoked in August of last year. The present

proposal, which will be accepted by the Government, has sprung from two factors. First is the need for growing congestion of goods consigned inside New Zealand. Merchants in every provincial town in New Zealand are fully aware of the transport bottleneck, and while the re-estab-lishment of these committees cannot overcome the primary difficulty of the shortage of shipping space, it should ensure that goods which are needed urgently in provincial centres will not lie for months in the wharf sheds at Auckland or Wellington. RATIONING FOR PORK?

As a result of suggestions which have been made to the Government, it is likely that the New Zealand housewife may soon be asked to do without pork as a means of aiding Britain. It will be recalled that during the “occupation” of New Zealand by United States forces, pork was banned. During the past few days, farming interests have urged that the ban on pork should be reimposed, and housewives might be well advised to’ order a week-end joint before it vanishes from the normal menu. BOMBERS FOR SALE

As a preliminary to the disposal of hundreds of surplus aircraft which litter airfields throughout New Zealand, the War Assets Board is making a start by offering for sale to the public a few of the well-tried machines which served the R.N.Z.A.F. well during the war. For anyone who is interested, there are three Ventura bombers and five P4O Warhawk fighters for sale at Nelson and four Hudson bombers at Woodbourne. The main headache still is the 500-odd aircraft which are scattered about Rukuhia airfield, Hamilton, and seaplanes at Hobsonville, Auckland. RE-USE OF BALING WIRE

To the sheepfarmer who appreciates the seriousness of the shortage of bailing wire, the following news gleaned today from the Overseas Shipowners’ Allotment Committee will be cheering. I was told that the committee has arranged to recover wire used on double dump wool bales shipped to the United Kingdom. The first shipment of this recovered used wire is now on its way back to Nely Zealand for further use. “RATIONS FOR CAT”

The annual departmental estimates which are presented to the Horise of Representatives each year always contain some unusual items, but seldom has there been a more intriguing vote than one in the Education Department’s estimates. It merely states bluntly: “Rations for cat, £3 i2s.”