EMPIRE BONDS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19662, 23 August 1935, Page 8

EMPIRE BONDS

MR FORBES’ SPEECH.

NEW ZEALAND AND WAR.

PANDEMONIUM AT RECEPTION.

(By Telegraph.—press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Thursday,

Speaking at the Wellington civic reception last night to the. Prime Minister, .Mr Forbes said: “When one took part, as I did, in the processions in the crowded London streets, I felt that that was one of the greatest occasions that had taken place in that old city. People turned out in their millions 'to express their loyalty to King and Queen. It gave one a feeling of security to know that, as far as Britain and the Empire were 'concerned, they were knit together with a sentiment -'that could stand the greatest shocks that could he applied to them.” Mr Forbes paid a tribute to the services of Mr Coales in the meat negotiations. He had devoted himself day in, and day out, to the work. Mr Forbes said he had visited some of the industrial centres of Britain, particularly Bradford and Leeds, where he had discussed frankly what faults there were in New Zealand's wool. The authorities there were anxious to do their best for New Zealand. They said quality could still be improved, particularly in the coarse sorts. He had also visited a number -of factories and manufacturers and they were all cheery as to their prospects. The principal interjections during Mr Forbes’ speech were regarding war, one interjector asking Mr Forbes to explain why in his speech in Canada he had committed New Zealand to war in the event of England’s participation in another conflict. He demanded that Mr Forbes should withdraw that statement, Mr Forbes, in reply, said his statement was made as he was passing through Canada and it had been published in “ garbled ” form in New Zealand. what he did say was that before New Zealand would go to war in association with Britain, the Parliament of New Zealand would first have to be called together to pass a measure or legislation.

“ I made 'that quite clear before 1 left New Zealand,” Mr Forbes added, “when I stated the legal position in the House and said that when Britain was at war the rest of the Empire in theory was at war, but I stipulated that before we joined them Parliament would have to be called together. I claim that I should be:judged on what I actually said."' The. Prime Minister’s explanation did not satisfy the in terjectors and pandemonium reigned for several minutes. STATEMENT BY PREMIER. SPEECH IN CANADA. A GARBLED MESSAGE. (By Telegrapn.—press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Prime Minister, Mr Forbes, stated to-day that since his return to New Zealand, his attention bad been drawn to a number of resolutions passed by various 'bodies in New Zealand and to a number of communications that had been forwarded to him front certain quarters in connection with the statement lie was alleged to have made while in Canada, 'concerning the position of New. Zealand, should Great Britain be at war. Some point was made of this matter by way of interjection at the civic reception to the Prime Minister and Mr Coates last night, and on being questioned to-day, Mr Forbes stated that what lie said on the subject in Canada was in precisely the same terms as the statement he made in the House of Representatives last February. “In this statement,” Mr Forbes said, “which was laid on the table as a Parliamentary Paper, I said there must be no blinking the fact that if Great Britain became involved in war, New Zealand would also be involved. This is so, I added, not only because of the legal position as we accept it in New Zealand (though there is some difference of opinion on this matter in certain other Dominions), but because the sentiment of this country would inevitably insist on New Zealand standing shoulder to shoulder with Great Britain in such circumstances. Even were these two reasons absent, any catastrophe that affects Great. Britain must inevitably affect New Zealand also, bound up as we arc in the welfare of the Old Country. “ This is nothing more than a statement of the actual position. The statement I made in Canada has apparently ■reached New Zealand in a garbled form and it is apparently alleged that 1 said Hint in such circumstances Now Zealand would automatically proceed to light, and that there would be no necessity to call Parliament. I said nothing of the sort, and obviously should such diro eventuality arise the very first step that would 'Certainly have to bo taken in New Zealand would be to call Parliament* together to consider flie position. “ I actually said this in Canada, hut that, portion of my remarks was apparently omitted from the message sent to New Zealand.”