New Zealand and Mutual Aid Agreement

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 66, 21 March 1944, Page 4

New Zealand and Mutual Aid Agreement

Mr. Fraser C§mmends New Arrangement (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 20. Asked to comment on the Canadian Australian mutual aid agreement to which both Mr. Mackenzie King and Dr. Evatt had referred in public statements, Mr. Fraser stated to-night that New Zealand also had a mutual aid agreement with Canada under consideration. He added that he had had an opportunity of reading Dr. Evatt’s remarks on the occasion of the announcement of the Australian-Canadian mutual aid agreement and he would like to state that the New Zealand Government was wholly in accord with the emphasis placed by the Australian Government on the importance in postwar years of maintaining a high level of employment throughout the world and in particular with Dr. Evatt's statement on general policy in relation to international economic collaboration. “The prosperity of New Zealand more probably than of most countries after the war is dependent upon the maintenance of a high level of world trade,’’ said Mr. Fraser. “The Government is therefore anxious to see the successful fulfilment of the conditions of world prosperity which were out lined in tne Atlantic Charter. “Paragraph 4 of the Charter provides that the nations will endeavour with due respect for existing obligations to further the enjoyment by all States great or small, victor or vanquished, of access on equal terms to the trade and raw materials of the world which are needed for their economic prosperity. “Paragraph 5 envisages the fullest collaboration between all nations in the economic field with the object of securing for all improved labour standards, economic advancement and socfel security. These goals may be reached and a repetition of economic chaos such as followed the last war may be avoided,” said the Prime Minister. ‘ ‘ only by the maximum collaboration between the nations, and New Zealand will give its fullest support to such forms of international economic collaboration as should obviate the possibility of drift into policies of extreme economic nationalism which disrupted world trade and hindered world prosperity after the last war. 4 • Foremost amongst the policies which will ensure economy of abundance and a better future for the world is that of full employment—by the adoption of policies which ensure high levels of employment. Throughout the world the consuming power of all the people will be maintained and high levels of world trade achieved. “Other measures to encourage world trade will undoubtedly be necessary and the Government’s policy is to collaborate in international discussions directed to this end. It is recognised that there will be circumstances in the transitional period immediately after the war which will warrant a continuance of the measures necessary to ensure the economic stability of the Dominion, but such measures may become less necessary as success is achieved by international arrangements for the promotion of employment, trade and prosperity.”