INDIES POSITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25339, 22 October 1945, Page 4

INDIES POSITION

VIEWS OF CONSUL

WATERSIDERS' ATTITUDE (0.c.) WELLINGTON, Sunday "It is strange that the waterside workers should advocate a policy^ which assists the Japanese," said the Ivether--1 a lids Consul, Mr M. F. Vigeveno, when commenting upon the refusal of New Zealand waterside workers to assist in the despatch of relief to the East Indies by the Alcinous, which has been held up in Wellington since last Monday by th<§ refusal of the waterside workers to load her. The present policy of the waterside workers could be regarded only as one that favoured a single Indonesian faction which had been armed by the Japanese and the continuation by the latter of war in the political sphere after their military defeat. "While Mr Vigeveno did not doubt the sincerity of the waterside workers, obviously they were not informed about the situation in the Indies.

Resistance to Fascism It was regrettable that instead of having confidence in the Netherlands Government, who, through their stubhorn resistance to Fascist aggression both in Europe and Asia, had given convincing proof to the world of a democratic and humanitarian outlook, waterside workers in New Zealand and some other countries were siding with one group of Indonesians who had collaborated with the Japanese and were now endangering the welfare of millions ol other Indonesians and the lives of from between 200,000 to .'500,000 people of European and mixed blood, said the Consul. When the Japanese treacherously attacked Pearl Harbour and Malaya the Dutch, though not then attacked, declared war on Japan immediately and threw themselves into the defence of Malaya with all tliev had. "Memories are short," said the Consul. "In time to come it will probably be generally admitted, as has indeed been already stated by several international experts, that the attitude of the Dutch and the fight put up by them in 1041 until the fall of Java saved Australia and New Zealand from invasion. We certainly gave the Allies time to reorganise and so prepare for the counterftttsck " Promise ol 'Autonomy Queen Wilhelmina herself had promised the people of the Indies that immediately after the war a round table conference of all groups would be called to devise means to introduced autonomy for them within the framework of the Netherlands Commonwealth, he said. At such a conference the Indonesians would have the opportunity of expressing opinions as to their treatment by the Dutch. He pointed out that the present situation in the Indies, to which the action of the waterside workers was contributing, had the effect of delaving progressive political developments. The personnel of the conference would otherwise have been named and preparations would have been made for the assembly of the People's Council, winch had an Indonesian majority. > "Today only one group, and its integrity is, to' say the least, doubtful, has been able to make itself heard." said Mr Vigeveno. "The right of all others to decide for themselves is denied. "If there nro any loyal Indonesians who today follow Dr Soekarno, the friend of the Japanese, it is because they have gone through such extreme hardships during the occupation, have lost all contact with the outer world and are instilled by n group of opportunists with the idea that only a breakaway from the Dutch can bring better conditions," said the Consul. "The voices of those true Indonesian leaders who are well aware that this can he achieved only in co-operation with the Dutch are prevented from being heard."

DAMAGED WAR VEHICLES REPAIRS IN NEW ZEALAND LATER SCRAPPING POSSIBLE (0.C.) WAIPTTKURATJ, Sunday Damaged and partially - wrecked United States war vehicles which have been brought to New Zealand from the Pacific are at present being repaired in Wellington and will later be shipped to America for destruction, according to information given to ' the Central Hawke's Bay Electric-Power Board by the chairman, Mr A. W. S. Longley, Mr Longley said while he was in Wellington recently he railed on a leading firm of motor dealers in connection with certain truck requirements of the hoard. He had been told the changeover to peacetime production had not yet been made as the factory was still engaged on a war contract for the repair of damaged American vehicles. "It seems a most absurd position, bringing these vehicles from the Pacific, putting them in first-class order here and sending them to America to be dumped over clifFs," he said. Mr A. F. Harris: That is reverse lendlease.

The Chairman: Yes. Mr H. W. Smith: At least New Zealand is getting paid for it. Mr Longley described the vehicles as being in a shocking condition. Although thev had done on an average only 6000 or 7000 miles it was possible to put a fist through the panels. HOME AID WORK HIGHEST PRIORITY GIVEN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Saturday Home aid work under the recently announced scheme would be regarded as one of the highest priorities and home aids would be exempt from direction to other work, said the Director of National Service, Mr H. L. Bockett, today. In addition, the utmost consideration would be given to granting permission to any suitable applicant who wished to terminate her present, essential employment to enrol as a home aid. said Mi' Bockctt. At all district manpower offices special officers had been detailed to explain the scheme to prospective applicants. he said. Details were now being worked out with a view to having everything in readiness to start the scheme in the four main centres before the end of the year. COLLISION WITH COW Lacerations to the face were suffered by David Hamilton McNaught, aged 17, a farm assistant, the son of Mr Alec McNaught, of the Grange, Warkworth, when lie fell from his motorcycle after striking a cow in Sandspit lioad, Warkworth, early on Sunday morning. He was admitted to the Auckland Hospital. CIRCULAR SAW MISHAP When she caught her hand in a circular saw at her home yesterday, Mrs Martha Clements, aged 38, of 24 Middleton Road, Remuera, suffered lacerations to the right hand. She was admitted to the Auckland Hospital. FALL FROM MOVING CAR As a result of falling from a moving motor-car at Wellsford on Saturday afternoon,- Mrs Maud Caldwell, aged 50. of 44 Church Street, Devon port, suffered head injuries and a fracture of the right wrist. She was admitted to the Auckland Hospital. MAORI LOST IN BUSH (0.C.) ROTORUA, Sunday A Maori, Te Kotahi Tawari, aged 65, of ftuatahuna, who went into the bush close to his home early yesterday morning, had not' been seen nor heard of late tonight. A search party was organised today and its numbers will be reinforced' tomorrow morning if Tawari is not discovered,