MR R. B. BENNETT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 278, 5 September 1936, Page 3

MR R. B. BENNETT.

AN UNOFFICIAL VISIT. ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 4. Pleasantly spoken and easy to approach, but not easy to interview, Mr it. B. Bennett, former Prime Minister of Canada, and now leader of the Opposition, arrived in Auckland this morning on the Monterey on an unofficial visit to New Zealand.

Declaring that liis visit was merely as a student and an observer, Mr Bennett evaded such questions as marketing, tariffs, the monetary policy in Alberta, defence, and the Ottawa Agreement. He had a kindly word and a handshake for all who desired to meet him, and found time to converse with a little girl with whom he became friendly. “Our trade in Canada is expanding and our revenue increasing, but we suffered greatly from the drought in the western provinces,’ he said. ‘There is evidence in every part of the world of improving conditions, and Canada is sharing with others in that improvement.’ ’ Between questions, Mr Bennett sought information about Auckland, and found a way of escape when the Canadian Trade Commissioner (Mr C. M. Croft) and a representative of the Department of Internal Affairs (Mr If. B. Dwyer) came aboard to welcome him to New Zealand. While in New Zealand, Mr Bennett will meet the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) and the Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) and interest himself in education, primary industries, and the system of administration in New Zealand. Mr Bennett is a lawyer by profession and a bachelor.