COMPLACENT NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 190, 12 August 1922, Page 13

COMPLACENT NEW ZEALAND.

s AN AMERICAN VIEW. KEPLY TO CRITICISMS. Early last month Mr. W. H. Mclnerny, ! director of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company, returned to Honolulu after visiting Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. In the course of an interview published in the "Honolulu Advertiser" Mr. McInerny stated that from a scientific point of view he had enjoyed what little opportunity he had of seeing the Australian Continent and New Zealand. Everywhere he went in Fiji there was the \ keenest interest in the economic possibilities. In Australia and New Zealand , he met only indifference. The Australians, and especially the New Zealanders, were self-contained and self-satisfied to an : amazing degree. Everywhere he went there appeared to be 'great possibilities in the way of development of the natural resources, with nothing being done, and nobody interested in doing anything. The New Zealanders were especially com- | placent and easy going. In a letter published a day or two later Mr. Mclnemy is taken to task by Mr. Arthur Kidman, of Sydney, representative of large meat export interests in Australia. Mr. Kidman says: "I am wondering whether he (Mr. Mclnerny) made a similar declaration while actually in Australia or New Zealand, because I . am of opinion that had he done so he _ would have then been given sufficient informant facts that would tend to dispel these erroneous impressions he seems to have gained. ... As to his remark, 'Australia and New Zealand's indifference to their economic possibilities,' if Mr. Mclnerny had dug deeply enough to obtain his information, he could have found ; that in Australia during the last few years a great number of industries have sprung up, such as woollen mills, tweed and worsted mills, and other kindred industries. They arc now manufacturing hosiery, underwear and various other | kinds of articles of wear for men, women j and children from Australia's own raw material. An enormous amount of capital has come to Australia from Great Britain and elsewhere for the extension | of present enterprises, and development | of new industries. . . Wonderful strides j of advancement have been made in Au9- | trafia and New Zealand, so that in my i opinion New Zealand and Australia will I both recover more rapidly from the setback all they received as the result of .. the great war than any other country. • ■ ■ \, Australia and New Zealand have nothing , to fear as to their future outlook, and . will both steadfastly improve their economic -conditions, notwithstanding anything Mr. Mclnerny may say to the contrary."