AT GENEVA

Grey River Argus, 25 August 1939, Page 10

AT GENEVA

MR JORDAN DEFENDED. WELLINGTON, August 23. A great deal of Opposition criticism of the High Commissioner for New, Zealand (Mr W. J. Jordan) had been; carping, and far from generous, said' the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon P. Fraser), when winding up the Budget debate in the House of Representatives to-night, but in all that, he said Mr Jordan spoke for the Government. | .“When Mr Jordan raised his voice at Geneva for open diplomacy, for democracy, for peace, and for better understanding among the nations,” said Mr Fraser, “he sfoke for the Government Party. We know from a hundred sources that he'won the respect, esteem, and admiration of the vast majority of delegates there.” Mr Fraser said that there was a hint of intolerance in the Opposition claim that there should be no criticism of overseas statesmen. Suppression of criticism of this, or any other Government, could not be countenanced. Numbers were elected on the assumption that they were able to think, and they had a right to say what they thought. However, the earth was charged with electricity today, said Mr Fraser, and what could be said with discretion a few days ago might not be said with discretion tonight though he did not know of any member of the House who would not be discreet.

Mr Fraser concluded by paying a tribute to Mr Roosevelt, and expressing the hope that there would be everlasting friendship between the United States and New Zealand. At present, when times were fraught with, grave danger, political, social, and economic differences became small in face of the common danger. Everyone must stand shoulder to shoulder with Britain in the fight for democracy.