SANCTIONS BILL

Northern Advocate, 25 October 1935, Page 8

SANCTIONS BILL

UPPER HOUSE CONSIDERATION “GESTURE TO REST OF WORLD” SECOND READING CARRIED [Per Press Association.—Copyright.! WELLINGTON, This Day. In moving the second reading of the League of Nations Sanctions (Enforcement in New Zealand) Bill in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon the Leader of the Council, the Hon. R. Masters, said that if war could not be banished by conciliation nations would have to arm to the teeth. He urged members to discuss the bill with .a full sense of the responsibility that was theirs in representing this section of the British Empire. The Hon. W. H. Mclntyre (Nelson) said he was not opposed to taking steps to prevent war, but he was not of opinion that the country should send one man to assist the slave drivers of Abyssinia. If the League of Nations wanted to end the war as soon as possible, why not use the combined forces of the world against Italy?

The Hon. W. Perry (Wellington) said the bill was a gesture to the rest of the world of the solidarity of the British Coinmonwealth of Nations. It might be necessary to apply naval and military sanctions, and New Zealand, as a signatory to the League Covenant, must not flinch from that possibility. At the moment New Zealand was not prepared to play its full part, because a volunteer force had not been encouraged. The Hon. J. G. Anderson (Wellington) asked what preparations had been made in New Zealand for carrying out its responsibilities under' the Covenant. The country should go further than military training. Other speakers supported the measure.

Replying to the debate, Mr. Masters said the present bill was necessary, and if it was intended to go further it would be necessary to provide further legislation, even if it meant calling a special session of Parliament. The bill went just as far as members of the League were going, and as far as the League desired New Zealand to go. The second reading was carried. In committee, the Hon. R. McCallum (Marlborough) asked whether an assurance could be given as to whether the country would send a force if necessary. Mr Masters replied that the Government was not called on at the moment to say whether men would be sent or not. The bill was passed. The Judicature Amendment Bill, the Administration Amendment Bill, the Law Practitioners’ Amendment Bill and the Alsatian Dog Bill were passed. In the Law Practioners’ Bill, solicitors in Government employ were given the same rights as other solicitors in making application for admission as barristers.