MUTUAL AID

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22934, 3 July 1944, Page 4

MUTUAL AID

New Zealand And Canada

Agreement Signed Economic Well-being Official News Service OTTAWA, July 1. Applause greeted Mr Mackenzie King's announcement in Parliament to-day in the presence of the Prime Minister of New Zealand (the Kt. Hon. P. Fraser) of the signing of a mutual aid agreement between Canada and New Zealand. Mr Fraser expressed appreciation of the mutual aid principles that had been so carefully worked out by' the Canadian Government, adding: “These principles are appreciated, particularly because of the clarity with which they' stated that mutual aid transactions carry with them no hampering postwar financial liabilities. I emphasise the word ‘mutual’ because while Canada with its great industry has made a remarkable contribution to the needs of the United Nations and, by the agreement, will extend aid to the country of which I am privileged to be Prime Minister, New Zealand, in turn, whenever Canada would be helped by the use of our resources, will gladly make these resources available. New Zealand will be proud to reciprocate within the means at her disposal. This war requires an all-in effort in which we are all pledged to exert efforts, individually and collectively, to the utmost extent in order to achieve victory for all. In that pledge of unremitting effort we in New Zealand, with you in Canada, hope to carry out in its fullness the true spirit of mutual aid.” Practical Co-operation

Mr Fraser added that this was one more example of the close practical cooperation existing between the two Dominions. He thanked the Government and Parliament of Canada for the help invariably extended when requested by New Zealand in the form of munitions and other war equipment. “We have never asked in vain.” Mr Fraser expressed New Zealand’s admiration for Canada’s contribution to the war through the amazing development of her industrial resources, the mobilisation of her manpower, the exploits of her fighting forces the forging of a good neighbour policy with the United States and famine relief for Greece and India. “Again your acceptance and carrying out of the air training scheme with all its complexities and perplexities has placed the rest of us under a debt of gratitude to your Dominion. Canada can say that, equally with the United Kingdom and all the other British dominions, she has given to the limit of her resources.” Mr Fraser also told Canadians how grateful New Zealand was for the unstinted hospitality extended to our air trainees here. He said this in reply to Mr Mackenzie King who, in introducing him, had declared Canada’s pleasure in having New Zealanders here, and expressed the Dominion’s fondness and admiration for them. Canada’s Message Mr King asked Mr Fraser to take back to the Parliament and people of New Zealand a message of appreciation of New Zealand’s war record. He said no country had entered more wholeheartedly into the struggle. It would ever be remembered that New Zealand did not wait for the forces of tryanny to approach her distant shores; she recognised that freedom threatened anywhere meant freedom threatened everywhere. From the outset the young men of New Zealand went form to uphold freedom wherever it was assailed. “We are proud to-day to recall that the Armed Forces of Canada and New Zealand have throughout the war fought side by side in many parts of the globe. I wish to give you an assurance that this comradeship in arms will continue until in both hemispheres the defeat of our common enemies is accomplished. Thereafter the comradeship between our people at a time of war will become a partnership closer than ever in all that pertains to the arts of peace. We would ask you to take with you to the people of New Zealand an expression of the admiration of the people of Canada for their outstanding contribution to the war effort of the United Nations. We would like you to tell them of the pride Canada feels in the deepened friendship of our two countries. And we shall be pleased if you convey to the members of the Armed Forces and all the people of New Zealand our best wishes for the success of their great endeavours.” Terms of the Agreement The mutual aid agreement between the two Dominions will meet the object defined by the Government of Canada in the Canadian Mutual Aid Act which states it is essential to the defence and security of Canada and to the cause of world freedom that Canada should make the utmost contribution to the victory of the United Nations. Through the energy of her citizens Canada has in this war assumed a place of eminence among the nations of the world, and now is one of the principal arsenals of democracy. Under mutual aid agreements, Canada is supplying the needs of such nations without regard to their means of payment. The effect of the agreement will, briefly, be that at the conclusion of the war New Zealand, as well as the other nations concerned, will have no post-war debt obligations to Canada. ; Under the agreement, New Zealand will pay cash for her requirements from Canada up to an amount approximately equal to the proceeds of New Zealand's exports to Canada, and the remainder of New Zealand’s requirements from Canada will be a charge against a Canadian mutual air appropriation set aside for the purpose. Similar mutual aid agreements have been concluded by Canada with the United Kingdom, the U.S.S.R., China, Australia and the French Committee of National Liberation. Operative Clauses The operative clauses of the agreement describe the conditions upon which goods and services needed for the prosecution of the war will be exchanged between Canada and New Zealand, the conditions upon winch the goods so exchanged can be sold and transferred and the provisions which will apply in respect of the return of certain particular goods, such as ships. One article of special interest states: “The Governments of Canada and New Zealand reaffirm their desire to promote mutually advantageous economic relations between their countries and throughout the world. They declare that their guiding purposes include the adoption of measures designed to promote employment, production and consumption of goods and the expansion of commerce through appropriate international agreements with the object of contributing to the attainment of all the economic objectives set forth in the Atlantic Charter."