N.Z. OVERSEA RELATIONS

Grey River Argus, 5 June 1943, Page 5

N.Z. OVERSEA RELATIONS

RECENT EXPANSION Appointment of Representatives P.A. PARLIAMENT BLDGS, June 4. The External Affairs Bill, dealing with the administration of New Zealand interests overseas, was passed by the House this afternoon with one minor amendment to make clear tne intention of one clause relating to the superannuation payments of officers appointed to positions overseas. Moving the second reading, Mr. Fraser said the need for the measure had been determined by growingscope of operations of the Prime Minister’s Department, in regard to foreign matters, and the necessity for making it clear that the External Affairs Department does deal with external Affairs. Support for the Bill was expressed by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland) who said he had felt tor some time that New Zealand was not adequately represented overseas. Such representation would be of great importance after the war, especially in matters of trade. An amendment, moved by Mr. Broadfoot, seeking to bring the appointment of officers to assist overseas representatives under the control of the Public Service Commissioner, instead of the Minister. This amendment was defeated on the yoices. During the second reading discussion on the Bill. Mr. F. W. Doidge, (Nat. Tauranga), when expressing the hope tiTat the Prime Minister, would vive some indication to the House ot the intended widening of the activities of his Department abroad, said it had been rumoured that an appointment to Russia had already been made. That appointment, it was said, was Mr. Jim Roberts, but he hoped the rumour was incorrect. He paia tribute to Mr. Fraser s handling external affairs, stating that the Prime Minister had always shown great capacity in that direction He had. handled them w-ith jhgnity, sound judgment, and fine patriotism. Mr iSoidge stressed the responsibilities of the High Commissioners who might be appointed, and asked H it were necessary that they should always be Ministers, or tired Mi ni . s teis, for whom some other job had to be found. This did not apply to the Minister of Finance who had a first class brain. Mr. Doidge also expressed strong approval of the recent appointments of Mr. C. A. Berendseii to Austral, and Mr Geoftrey Cox to a position in the New Zealand Minister’s office in Washington. Mr, Doidge said he h °P ed . the ister would take to heart what had been said about men already m the Civil Service having the right.to expect promotion to jobs overseas. Men should be specially trained toi such P °Replying to the debate, Mr. Eraser said P that a number of United Nations were anxious, because ot New Zealand’s prominence in the- war, to exchange representatives wth the Dominion, but obviously New Zea land would be overburdened if every request were acceeded to. On the other hand, of course it was important that New Zealand should be represented where representation was beneficial. The appointment of Mr Geoffrey Cox was an example °f the absolute necessity f 9 r the Governme t t 0 be able to appoint any man who was suitable for the job Mr Fraser said he did not undervalue the ability of the Public Service m New Zea land There was no finer puonc service in any country, but he considered that the whole of New Zea land should be the field from which overseas appointments made. He wished to emphasise, however, that there was not the slightest intention of barring public servants, and, all things being equal, he would give public servants hist consideration. He certainly agreed that only conditions of war eoula iustifv the action that had been tak ] en in Britain and in New Zealand in permitting Members of Parliament to serve their countries abroad. Dur ing the debate, said Mr. Fraser, some criticism had been made regal4in„ the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Pharazyn as Military Attache to the New Zealand Legation in Washington. . Lt.-Col. Pharazyn, •he said, was a' distinguished soldier m the last war, and after that had been engaged in a diplomatic mission tor PritAin to Turkey. Nobody could doubt his ability, and nobody in New Zealand was more suited for the ap pointment, which had bea n from the Public Service, but Hom the Armv. It had been stated that Lt.Col. Pharazyn had been a prominent Communist, said -Mr. Frasei. Pei sonaliv he was not »waie of tnat but he did know that lately he had been a prominent ahti-Commumst. That however, was not the point. Lt.-Col. Pharazjfti was a man who was helping in the war, ana . Mi. Fraser said that he pared to stand up and defend him at Territories Bill which Mr. Fraser, in moving the second reading, said was a coraliary to tne External Affairs Bill, was passed through the remaining stages w thout discussion and the Pa J ent ®’ Hr V® t signs and Trade Marks Amendment Bill, discussion on which had been adjourned from March 12 was also put through the remaining stages and Pa fhe‘House rose at 9.10 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday next.