MR NASH HITS OUT

Grey River Argus, 7 September 1939, Page 6

MR NASH HITS OUT

AUCKLAND ORGANISATION. AUCKLAND, September 4. Trenchant criticism was levelled at an Auckland organisation by the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, in the course of his address to business men at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon here. Referring to the delicacy of his negotiations in Britain, he said that at a time when he was being received with friendliness everywhere and when an agreement was just I about to be signed efforts were made I from the New Zealand end to “cruel ! the pitch.” “An Auckland organisation did everything possible to make it difficult for me,” said Mr Nash. “An article appeared in the “Manchester Guardian” that was damaging to the credit of the Dominion, and the organisation wrote to every Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom, urging them to make it hard for me. Any damage that was done was done from New Zealand and not from the United Kingdom. That was unfair.” The Ministei' said that he had made a statement that discussions were being continued with British manufacturers and exporters on a friendly basis. That statement had been cabled to New Zealand, and a cable had come back from New Zealand stating that he had said that the manufacturers and exporters of Britain were “satisfied.” That cable had been pub- i lished at a time when he was just about to sign an agreement, and the 1 United Kingdom manufacturers had i issued statements which were circui- 1 ated throughout Britain that they J were “not satisfied.” That had done « a great deal of harm to his negotia- * tions. 1

Anyone who loved New Zealand would not do that,” he said. “He loved only himself. People who do that sort of thing are not an asset to the country; they are a liability.”