N.Z. ENVOY LEAVES

Grey River Argus, 14 October 1936, Page 5

N.Z. ENVOY LEAVES

SEND-OFF TO MR. NASH KEEN PUBLIC INTEREST Aeroplanes Circle Liner (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND', October 13. Three Air Force aeroplanes, circling in formation over the “Aorangi,” and swooping down in salute, gave NewZealand’s goodbye to the Alinister of Finance and Marketing (Hon. W. Nash), on his departure for England this afternoon. The Minister spent a busy morning with a long succession of callers, some of whom had business to discuss, while others simply desired to offer him their good wishes. “If I had had another couple of days in Auckland I could hardly have got to the end of those who wanted to see me.” he remarked after boarding the liner. Air Nash, however, found time to accompany the Alinister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. parry), on a visit to the proposed site of the new Central Eire .Station. He was aboard in good fine to receive more callers, among whom was the Alayor, Air Ernes t Dav i s. _ Airs Nash’s cabin was filled with flowers, ami bouquets were also presented in numbers to other ladies of the official party. As the liner drew slowly out at 4.15. one hundred or more waterside workers gathered on the berth and on the overhead' bridge, and loudly cheered. “Talk straight to Stanley Baldwin when vou get there!” called one man, and another asked the ALnister, in a loud voice, whore was the red flower that ought to have been in his buttonhole. Air Nash responded by taking a crimson rose from his wife’s bouquet, and waving it above his head. The aeroplanes circled around the liner as she went down the harbour, and they were still in attendance when she disappeared round the North Head.

LABOUR’S POLICY. AUCKLAND. October 13. Air. Nash did not leave during tho forenoon as intended, the departure of the Aorangi having been postponed until three o’clock this afternoon. The Minister was engaged throughout the morning with callers at his hotel.. In an interview Air Nash reviewed the Labour Government’s legislation to date, remarking the aim was to provide “the highest standard of living for all our people and if this is kept in mind, it will be seen that the changes made in the fields of finance, primary production, industry, , social services and civil liberties, all lit into a pattern.” After outlining the various enactments. Air Nash added: From this brief survey, it will be noticed that some of the’steps taken by the Government are permanent steps on the road we wish to travel. We have more to do in the future, much more, but our progress is conditioned by our human capacitv and our power to organise our resources, but judging our legislation as a beginning, the Government is fairly satisfied with the progress made.”

CIVIC SEND-OFF,

AN INTERESTING SPEECH

AUCKLAND. October 13

The Alinister for Finance (lion. W. Nash) spoke last night at a civic farewell accorded to him. He made a deep impression with an exposition of defhocratic ideals, especially that of individual liberty. Ho said the world was in the throes of a great fight, not that fight between socialism and capitalism, which was inevitable, and on both sides of which some very beautiful characters were engaged, but the conflict between dictatorship and domination on the one hand and democracy on the other. This conflict was intense and the solution was hard to find. Dictatorship—Russian, German. Italian, or any other—suppressed the soul of even* man who came under its power. It compelled him to acquiesce in that which, left free to express his thoughts and feelings, he would not approve. ‘‘Any person, any Government that does this is burying something which some day. sooner or later, will "come to life.” declared Mr Nash. ‘‘You cannot put the best philosophy in the world into practice by force or domination. Therefore, I say that dictatorships cannot have permanency.” Speaking of the contrary ideal, as exemplified in the British Commonwealth of Nations, Mr Nash said it was an old and basic principle that British citizens had freedom to choose their rulers and to shape the laws under which they lived. However, ho would go further and say that the people of a free country needed economic freedom in order that each might express himself both spiritually and materially. It was this economic freedom which offered the brightest hope for the future, especially to young people who would be the citizens of times to come. The ideal of all who would uphold democracy should be government by persuasion, not by force Their aim should he to grow the plant of liberty, to give all the right to themselves, which was the coal of life, but they must see that freedom was for all, since its full value could never be attained unless it was the right and heritage of every man and woman. This exaltation of linertv was the contribution of the English-speaking world to the progress of "the world as a whole. His hope and wish for his own mission said Air Nash, in conclusion, was that it would bind New Zealand more closely to the Old Country and ultimately to other countries as well. “I will try to live up to the responsibility- that has been given me.’’ he added. ‘‘Whatever the outcome. I shall return humble in spirit but knowing that I have done my best, and that anv agreements I have concluded, difficult as they may be. will help to knit more closely the British Commonwealth that we all love so much.” (Loud applause).

LABOUR SEND-OFF. Supporters of the Labour Party in Auckland gathered in large numbers at the Auckland Labour Chib to express their best wishes for (lie success of the mission of Hon. W. Nash. Mr. ,i. T. Jennings presided. Hon. W. E Parry. Minister for Internal Affairs, the Mavor of Auckland. Mr Ernest Davis, Mrs Nash and Mrs Parry attended. The Mayor said that although in his