LOYALTY ISSUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22847, 30 September 1937, Page 13

LOYALTY ISSUE

LACK OF PLEDGE

MR. J. HARGEST'S REGRET EXCHANGES IN HOUSE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Wednesday Disappointment that no affirmation of the Dominion's loyalty to the Umpire had been made by Now Zealand's delegation to the Imperial Conference was expressed by Mr. J. Hardest (.Opposition—Awarua) during the discussion on the report of the proceedings of the conference in the House of .Representatives to-night. "When the Prime -Minister might have been' a little more loyal to the Empire," Mr. Hargest said, "he cut loose in the realms of the League of Nations. We welcome the expression of continued faith in the League, but it must be recognised that the strength of the Empire is the best insurance for peace. Australia's suggestion for a Pacific pact represented a wonderful ideal, but it is quite incapable of accomplishment at present. Empire or Commonwealth

"I still regret that in the speeches made by the Prime Minister there was no pledge of loyalty from the most loyal country in the Empire," Mr. Hargest continued. "There is not even a mention of the Empire. It is called the British Commonwealth." Mr. D. W. Coleman (Government — Gisborne): We do not need to pledge our loyalty. "This is a time to reaffirm our loyalty to the Empire," said Mr. Hargest. "1 prefer to say Empire rather than British Commonwealth of Nations." The Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Eraser: The King refers to the British Commonwealth, but apparently it is not good enough for you. There were repeated requests from the Government benches to read a passage from a speech by Mr. Savage in which the Prime Minister supported pentiraents of loyalty expressed by Mr. Stanley Baldwin (now Earl BaldwinJ. Mr. Hargest read the passage, but maintained that there had been no individual expression of loyalty from New Zealand.

Mr. Eraser: That is too childish for anything. It is contemptible. Only Ties of Affection

Mr. Hargest said he did not question tho loyalty of tho Prime Minister or other members of the delegation. "The so-called British Empire is no longer an Empire and has not been for many years, particularly since the granting of self-government and the passing of the Statute of Westminster," said Mr. C. L. Carr (Government —Timaru), speaking later in the debate. "Except for the ties of affection that bind us we cannot really bo called an Empire." Loyalty was not a matter of words, Mr. Carr continued, and the British people as a rule did not wear their hearts on their sleeves. There was such a thing as protesting too much.

MINISTERS' BROADCASTS

STATEMENTS OF POLICY NOT SUBJECT TO CENSORSHIP [by TELEGRAPH —SFECIAIi REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Broadcasts announcing matters of Government policy are not subject to censorship, according to a statement made in the House of Representatives to-day by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, in reply to a question by Mr. A. C. A. Sexton (Independent—Franklin) concerning the broadcast address on guaranteed prices given by the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash.

"The Minister's broadcast was a statement of Government policy," Mr. Savage said, "containing the information relative to the proceduro followed to determine the guaranteed price for butter and cheese. As such it was not subject to examination or approval by anybody other than the Government." THE EMBARGO ON STOCK FINAL DECISION NOT MADE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] ■WELLINGTON, Wednesday No iinal decision has yet been made by the Government on the proposal tiu.t the present embargo 011 the importation of stud stock from Great Britain should be lifted. Mr. H. S. S. Kvle (Opposition— Riccarton), who raises the question annually in the House of .Representatives, received a reply to-day from the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, t,o the effect that the question was viewed by the Government as one of considerable importance and that a full report, was being prepared for consideration by the Cabinet.