OVERSEAS TRIBUTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27572, 14 December 1950, Page 8

OVERSEAS TRIBUTES

Statesmanship And Work

High tributes to Mr Fraser’s statesmanship and work were paid yesterday by the British Royal Family, political leaders and the principal newspapers in Britain, as well as prominent pepole in the Commonwealth and foreign countries. A cablegram from the King, received by the GovernorGeneral, Sir Bernard Freyberg, stated: “The Queen and I have heard with great regret the news of Mr Peter Fraser’s death. His services to New Zealand as her Prime Minister during a critical period of her history and in the councils of the British Commonwealth will long be remembered with gratitude—George R.” Britain The Prime Minister, Mr Attlee, said: “Mr Fraser became a true son of New Zealand although born a Scot,’ said Mr Attlee. “ Throughout his long career as a member of the House of Representatives and for 15 years as a Minister of the Crown he gave loyal and devoted service, not only to the country of his adoption, but also to the British Commonwealth. During the Second World War he led his country through dark and difficult days to ultimate victory. We recall with gratitude the loyal support and valuable advice he gave us on the many occasions when he visited this country. The British Commonwealth and New Zealand have lost a notable figure.” The Times, in a leading article, says that Mr Fraser was not of the same stature as General Smuts or Mr Mackenzie King as a Prime Minister, “ yet there has been no more devoted servant of the Commonwealth He believed passionately that the Commonwealth as a coherent unit could only be a force for good in world politics, and he strove to keep it so. Whatever Britain gave to him as a young man he returned many times. He will have his place in history among the builders of the Commonwealth.” Other national newspapers joined The Times in paying tribute to Mr Fraser in editorials and special articles. The Conservative Daily Graphic said: “ In a little over a quarter of a century after Mr Fraser left his village in Scotland the world hailed him as one of the most brilliant statesmen of his time.” The Liberal News Chronicle said: “Mr Fraser faced difficult decisions during the war with determination and courage which marked him as a real leader.”

The Labour Daily Herald said: “He leaves in his debt all those who enjoy the great edifice for he was largely responsible—the social security scheme which established New Zealand as the pioneer welfare State.” • The Left Wing Daily Mirror said: “Mr Fraser showed the world that there could be social security with freedom” Australia The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Menzies: “Like everybody who had the pleasure of knowing him, I had a great admiration and very real respect for him. His name will be long remembered, not only in New Zealand. but all over the British Empire.” The Federal Opposition Leader, Mr J. B. Chifley, said: “ I very much regret his passing. He served New Zealand and the British Commonwealth faithfully and well, and was an eminent member of the Labour movement, which suffers a very great loss. I valued his friendship deeply, and on behalf of the Australian Labour Party and myself I offer his family and members of the New Zealand Labour Party my deepest sympathy.” Mr Chifley himself is confined to bed and has been ordered by his doctors to take no part in politics for three months. Canada The Montreal Star, one of Canada’s leading papers, said: “ With all his ingrained liberalism, wedded to a lifetime belief in the efficacy of unionism in Labour, Mr Fraser stopped firmly and finally when he had reason to fear Communist infiltration. _ He preferred political consequences rather than any compromise with Communism. His courage was vindicated by the practical elimination of Communism in the 1949 election—a debt which New Zea-' land owes to his memory. The man himself had few of the arts of the politician about him naturally and cultivated none of them. His championship of the under-dog was instinctive.” South Africa

The Prime Minister of South Africa, Dr Malan said: “My colleagues and I have been saddened to learn of the death of Mr Fraser and send the people of New Zealand our deepest sympathy in the loss of so distinguished a national figure. Mr Fraser will be long remembered for the service he rendered his country in peace and in war and in a wider sphere for the wise counsel he offered in our Commonwealth Association.” Cook Islands The Secretary for Island Territories, Mr R. T. G. Patrick, has been asked to convey the sincere sympathy of all the people of the Cook Islands, both European and Maori, in the sad loss of Mr Peter Fraser. “ His personal interest in ' the welfare of the people of these islands.” says Mr Patrick, “ and his practical help towards their advancement have been very greatly appreciated and will be sadly missed by all.” Fiji

The Governor of Fiji, Sir Brian Freeston. has conveyed to Mr Holland the following resolution, passed by the Legislative Council of Fiji this morning:—“The Legislative Council of Fiji wishes to record its sorrow at the death of Mr Peter Fraser, who was Prime Minister of New Zealand during the crucial years of the war.” United States The American Secretary of State, Mr Dean Acheson, said: “ I wish to express by deepest sympathy in the death of Mr Fraser. Mr Fraser will always be remembered with deep admiration by the people of this country for his contribution to world unity and the success of New Zealand-American cooperation during the last war. We share with you a sense of loss in his passing ”

The New York Times, describing Mr Fraser as one of the architects of the United Nations Charter at San Francisco in 1945, said he was a leader of smaller Powers in their uncuscessful attempt to limit big-Power dominance of the organisation. The paper recalled that Mr Fraser, in one of his first speeches at San Francisco, criticised the failure of the Dumbarton Oaks proposals (the basis for the charter) to provide ironclad guarantees for joint action by the nations in p-.-Po; o' qgfrre'sion.