HON. W. NASH

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1937, Page 5

HON. W. NASH

VISIT TO RUSSIA Mr polson criticises trip. (Per Press Association—Copyright). AAHSLLINGTON, Sept. 14. Curiosity about the circumstances in which the Minister for Finance (the Hon AY. Nash) had visited Russia during his recent mission abroad was shown by Mr AA T . J, Poison (National, Stratlord), when speaking in the Imprest Supply Bill debate in the House of Representatives to-night. TTe said that the Minister had attended a conference in that country on May Day, but this was denied by Mr Nash in an interjection. Mr Poison said he had never at any time suggested that the Prjme Minister (the Rt. Hon M. J. Savage) was not entitled to do all tlio good lie could at Home. He thought the Prime Minister had represented this country worthily and well, and congratulated him on that. The trip of the Minister for Labour (the Hon H. T. Armstrong) was probably a good investment—a good investment if lie iucceeded in teaching the rest of the world as much as he attempted to teach it at Geneva.

Referring to the Minister for Finance, Mr Poison said he did not think the results of liis mission were likely to be worth the money expended on the tour. In his opinion, the Minister stayed too long away. The Minister travelled far, and talked a lot, and what did he achieve? asked Mr Poison. It was true that Mr NaslT had delivered a good many addresses, including some sermons, and good ones, too. According to the published reports, the Minister had delivered a sermon in a New Zealand church in London, where he spoke of the regimentation of the individual as the antithesis of Christianity. Having said that, the Minister had gone to Moscow.

“I don’t know what the Minister went to Moscow for,” said Mr Poison. ‘7 don’t know whether he went there for trade, particularly on May Day, but I want to ask why he alone of British Ministers Went to Russia on that day. the day appointed by the Third International of Soviets as a day of jubilation.”

At this stage Mr Speaker interrupted Mr Poison and pointed out to him that although the limits in an imprest supply debate were very wide, he thought the member for Stratford was exceeding those limits. Mr Poison: 1 am discussing the cost of the Minister’s trip abroad. Mr Speaker: I think you have gone a little beyond that, and that you are discussing the merits or demerits of the Minister’s trip to Russia. Mr. Poison: Had the Minister paid his own expenses, it would have been different. The Minister attended a conference in Russia at the expense ol the taxpayers of this country.

Mr Nash: I attended no conference. Air Poison: I am glad to hear that. Mr Nash: No conference was held while I was there.

Air Poison: That is peculiar, because there was a conference that day. Government members: Apologise. Mr Poison: 1 will not apologise. Sir Walter Citrine, of the British Trades Union 'Coingress, advised the trades unions representatives in Great Britain not to attend the conference. I should be able to criticise the trip of any Alinister who goes anywhere at the expense of the country. Air Nash: Speak the truth while doing it.

Air Poison: I have merely suggested that the Minister was in Russia at the time of the conference, and I want to know the facts.

Air Nash: I attended no conference

Air Poison: The Minister tells me he attended no conference, and I accept that statement.

Continuing, Air Poison sa'd that Air Nash had gone abroad with an offer to spend the whole of the proceeds from the sale of New Zealand produce in Great Britain in that country. He would like to know the result of the Alinister’s negotiations in that connexion, for it had been stated that he had failed in that mission.