Holland Appeals For Greater Co-operation

Northern Advocate, 6 July 1945, Page 2

Holland Appeals For Greater Co-operation

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day In a sitting lasting less than half an' hour yesterday afternoon, the House of Representatives disposed of formal business before adjourning until last night as a mark ox respect for Mr. Curtin.

What he and Mr. F. W. Doiclge (Tauranga) had seen while they were overseas had convinced them that all legislators must work for peace in the future, stated the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland) in the Address-in-Reply debate last night, and he appealed for greater co-operation in the future.

In the past, ho said, it had been the custom not to see any good in the other fellow if he happened to be on the other side, but he wanted to express appreciation of what the Prime Minister (Hon. P. Fraser) had done for New Zealand by representing the country at the San Francisco Conference, and to welcome him back to the Dominion. Mr. Holland was sure all members would look forward to hearing Mr. Fraser’s report on the conference. Before the debate commenced the acting-Prime Minister (Hon. W. Nash) announced that as a number of members would have to return to thenhomes at the week-end he would ask members to agree to an adjournment tomorrow until Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Holland said that the mover and seconder of the Address-in-Reply had tried to switch the debate on to the Government’s proposal to take over the privately-owned shares in the Bank of New Zealand, but they would hot succeed as members of the Opposition would reserve what they had to say about 'that until the Government’s measure came before the House. In the meantime the other side was not going to learn their views.

Moscow Minister As it was imperative for the people of the Dominion to understand Russia it was a pity that, having a New Zealand Minister in Moscow, the public here knew so little of his activities, Mr Holland said. While the Minister no doubt was doing a good job it was desirable that the public, whose money was being spent on maintaining the Moscow Legation, should be told more of what he was doing. The speaker had not seen a single report on the work of the Minister. An overwhelming need for - world peace was a strong British Empire, added the Leader of the Opposition. 1-Ie thought it would strengthen Empire ties if the New Zealand Division was taken to Britain and acclaimed, as it undoubtedly would be, before being brought home. Such a move would probably quicken its ultimate return to the Dominion, for if the men were left in Europe garrison duty would be found for them and New Zealand troops were not cut out for garrison duties. There could not be a strong British Empire unless Bi’itain as the heart of the Empire recovered her trade and components of the Empire must ensure Britain her legitimate rights of trade. World peace depended, too, on strong friendship of the British Empire with other English-speaking countries, particularly the United States. Mr Holland said his meeting with President Turman gave him the impression that the President would be a splendid ally of the British peoples. Future Of Division j A question they must consider was the future of the New Zealand Division, Mr. Holland said. The Dominion's war effort was not confined to actual combat duties. It also included production, and while he was overseas he had made extensve inquiries about what was thought of the part New Zealand should play in the war against Japan. There was a great shortage of food in Britain. Europe was starving. America had cut food shipments to Britain and Australia had had production reduced by drought. The question then was should New Zealand send troops against Japan or use them in other ways. Could New Zealand go on maintaining the divi-

sion or could the men be employed to greater advantage. The information Mr. Holland line: got overseas was that New Zealand's war effort could best be expressed in food production, so that the people ol Britain and of starving Europe could have more food. It was not a question of pulling out of the war. Tire question was: Were we being most effective by remaining in the field? If a small land force was wanted in the Pacific it should be composed of men who had not yet -•erved.

”Mv v ow is that we should bring the divioim homo but should maintain the air force and naval forces” said Mr. Holland. ' He asked the Government to reconsider the calling up of 13-19-year-olds as they could not be sent overseas for two or three years, and it was not fair to take them from their trades for service in New Zealand.

Mr. Holland asked would the Government go on maintaining a division in the Pacific merely to make sure of a seat al the peace tab!*-. To say that the country would not have a scat because it did not take part in active warfare was just bunkum. Trade Wifh Britain While there was a great future for manufacturing in New Zealand there also was a great deal the country should procure from Britain, said Mr. Holland. New Zealand industry should be developed by freeing it from high taxation and State interference. both of which were preventing expansion. It must be made worth while for both workers and employers to increase their productive effort. His party believed it could increase the efficiency of New Zealand’s industries by from 15 to 3C per cenf. by implementing this policy. Britain bought 81 per cent, of 'he Do minion's exports and New Zealand could not go cn indefinitely slamming the coor on the fingers of its best customer by its import restriction policy. The remedy for New Zealand's problems lay in exporting more, not in importing less, continued Mr. Holland. We had today considerable overseas funds, but not nearly enough to replenish our importers’ shelves. The people of New Zealand did not want the Minister of Finance to say what they could buy Today the door was closed to half the things Britain wanted to sell. Mr. Holland said that if his party became the Government in 1946 and the present Government in the meantime had taken over the private shares of the Bank of New Zealand, the National Party would promptly remove the Bank ox xNew Zee.land from political control. It would not rcctuire the directors t<> accept the dictatovship oi the Minister of Finance, It would also introduce a system of private shareholding in about the proportions now existing, but would distribute the ownership of those shares more widely by making some available to ordinary working people who would also have some say in the direction of the bank.

The Opposition was aware of the need for reform, he concluded. The members opposite believed that the people wanted the Government to think for them, but (he Opposition believed thar one of the most important jobs of any Government was lo leave the people alone.