A TRAVELLED KNIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 155, 1 July 1913, Page 2

A TRAVELLED KNIGHT.

sra w. BucHAKAirs rettjbn.

IMPRESSIONS FROM ABROAD. ENGLAND'S VTTAX DEFENCE PROBLEM.

After a six months' tour, which embraced England, Scotland, Canada, and many foreign parts, the member for Wairarapa returned to New Zealand by the Niagara thus morning. When he set sail in January last it was as Mr. Walter Buchanan, but he returns to the land of his adoption with the honours of knighthood. However, those who know Sir Walter will readily believe that though changed in title he is still the same unassuming, good-natured Scotsman, with the same keen interest in the welfare nf Npw Zealand, as of old. His recent visit is the fourth which he has made to the Old Country since he left his beloved Argyllshire fifty-six- years ago, but with a somewhat sad shake of the head Sir Walter tells one that to him it is not now the same old Argyllshire, as with two exceptions his schoolmates have passed away from the place of his birth. At the same time, the veteran politician spent three very pleasant months amongst his friends in England and Scotland. On the homeward trip (dnring which he received wireless intimation of his knighthood) Sir Walter left the steamer at Aden to indulge in a 700-mile Irip up the Nile, and he afterwards visited Italy. Switzerland, and France.

THE FINANCIAL WORLD. Sir Walter spoke interestingly of various matters of moment to New Zealand and made special reference to the visit of the Minister of Finance to England for the purpose of negotiating a Dominion loan. "I saw a good deal of Mr. Allen while he was in England." said the member for Wairarar-a. "and I feel sure, that I am in a position to state that he mad" an excellent impression at Home. In fact, it was due to this that his mission proved so successful." Sir Walter explained that from what he had heard in England he believed that a. Minister of Finance could not have arrived there at a worse time of financial stringency, as the feeling against the issuing of fresh loans was very strong. However. Mr. Alien acted with such diplomacy and so impressed the financiers of London in favour of New Zealand that the prejudice against further lending was broken down with most satisfactory results to New Zealand.

BURNING QUESTION OF DEFENCE. Passing on to other nuctters. Sir Walter said that the most prolific topic in England at present seemed to be that of defence. "As an outsider," he added. "I was quite astonished at the inaction of the Home Government in regard to army and aerial matters. England is miles behind France and Germany in her efforts to turn aviation to account for purposes of defence, and as an instance of her apathy in army building, one nerd only refer to the enthusiasm with which Lord Roberts is being received in the advocacy of his national Herrice scheme. 1 was in Glasgow during his recent visit to that city, and I feel that it is quite impossible to describe the wonder of his reception." The member for Wairarapa added that a feeling appears to exist in England that if war were to come, the Mother Country would be caught unawares. He =aid that the strength of the Navy v- generally recognised, hut that Britishers at Home feel that the land forces are not- nearly so strong as they should be. >Sir Walter remarked that both in England and in Canada he found that inadequate ideas prevailed concerning the doings of New Zealand and Australia iv matters of defence. "At the same time." he added, "all the remarks I heard about our system of compulsory service and our contributions to the Navy- were complimentary to the initiative and resource of this Dominion." The returned 3LP. remarked that he was in Ottawa during the last ihree days of the Canadian debate on the Defence Bill.

SLOW AT IMMIG-BATTOX. Another fart; which struck Sir Walter while on tour was that New Zealand perceptibly lags behind Canada and Australia so far as immigration is concerned. In the latter country ,the immigration business had. he said, been actively pushed by a Labour Government, with"the result that the Commonwealth last year secured something like SS.OOO new settlers as compared with about 11,000 secured by New Zealand. At the same time. Canada had an excess of over 400,000 from all sources. "Nobody going through Canada as I did," said Sir Walter "could fail to see in every direction the enormous development that is taking place. I visited -Montreal in 1574, and again this time. The expansion of that city is extraordinary. Winnipeg, which I have recently seen for the first time, is also growing at an astounding rate. Such progress I believe would be quite impossible but for the influx of population which is being brought about by the Immigration Department. Here" in New Zealand the reports nf the Labour Department continually show that there is need for a larger population, and. while no one wishes to see the creation ot a class of unemployed, it cannot be overlooked that New Zealand is not keeping pace with the prevailing demand for labour. If nnr resources are to be developed as successfully as those of Canada, we must encourage the immigration of desirable settlers. - '

NvBW ZEALAXT) PRKPEEEED. Sir Walter added that, notwithstanding the sign.-, of progress and prosperity ■wiik'h he noted in Canada, his preference for New Zealand remained as strong as ever. The lengthy winters in the sister Dominion were extremely hard on those who are developing the primary radustries. There was a season of fully six months of rain and snow. In fact, he had seen during April and ilay (which was approaching mid-summer) dairy cows that had to be stabled and hard fed. The JXew Zealand politician, who is keenly interested in agricultural and pastoral matters, took opportunities of visiting four of the agricultural colleges in Canada. He was greatly impressed with what he saw. aud formed the opinion that the Dominion is greatly beneiiting from the instruction so thoroughly imparted in these Institutions. The work carried out a,tthe experimental farms was, he thought especially praiseworthy. Sir Walter expressed the opinion that the agricultural colleges which it is proposed to establish in both .the North and the South Islands woedd have a like effect upon the agricultural industry of New Zealand. The member for Wairarapa added that he was pleased to be home once more, and remarked that he intended proceeding South by to-night's Main Trunk