A KEEN STATESMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 275, 21 November 1927, Page 9

A KEEN STATESMAN.

OBSERVANT AND GENIAL.

A SEEKER OF KHOWLED6E.

INSTRUCTIVE EMPIRE TOUR.

IMPRESSIONS OF AUSTRALIA.

The first impressions one formed of the visiting Secretary of State for the Dominions on meeting him on board the Niajrara were concerned with his genial personality and his keenness of mind.

As the first British Minister to visit New Zealand while holding Cabinet rank, there is little doubt that Mr. Amery is well seized of the importance of the purpose which has prompted his Empire tour. He has been referred to as "the busy little statesman," and, indeed, it is difficult to employ a phrase that more aptly describes him.

Alert in observation and constructive In thought, the visitor displays the keenest interest in Empire problems. "Knowledge based on understanding" was the phrase used by him to describe the purpose of his mission. He believes that personal intercourse and mutual understanding are the tnost important elements in Imperial co-operation. Value of Personal Contact.

"Yes," said Mr. Amery, "I hope there] will be future tours of the Dominions by British Ministers, and to my mind the logical time to carry them out will be between the holding of Imperial Conferences. It may be that Ministers will not be able to devote a period of seven months to a tour of the Whole of the Dominions, but they may at least visit one Dominion at a. time, and in due course gain a fuller knowledge of the problems of the Empire as a whole."

Mr. Amery realises that whereas by remaining in England a British Minister meets only the Dominion Prime Ministers and such other Ministers who may visit England, he may by touring the Empire develop a personal acquaintance with the Dominion leaders a* a whole.

"I am looking forward," he said, "to meeting here many old friends like Sir James Allen, Sir Dillon Bell, Mr. Downie Stewart and your Prime Minister, whom I met at the last Imperial Conference." He had, he said, greatly appreciated meeting the leadees in South Africa, as well as those in all of the Australian States and at the Federal capital.

Mr. Amery was impressed with Canberra, in which he sees the makings of a line city, and he thinks it is wise for the Federal Parliament to get away from the established State capitals so as to obtain a detached view and "see Australia as a whole." A Former Visit.

This is not the first visit of Mr. Amery to New Zealand. He was here in 1013. Asked the reason for that visit, he said: "To inform myself. I was already a member of Parliament, and I desired to become familiar with conditions in Australia and New Zealand, as I already was with those in South Africa." He added that he was looking forward especially to visiting places where he did not go fourteen years ago. One item in his tour which is causing pleasurable anticipation is a rest of two days as the guest of General Sir Andrew Russell, in Hawke's Bay. The visitor came into contact with the New Zealanders on Gallipoli, and it was there that the friendship was formed. Mr. Amery looks forward also to a Week in the heights around Mount Cook. He is a keen mountaineer, and while in South Africa made an easy climb of the Drakensberg in Natal. Asked if he would climb at Mount Cook, he said that he intended doing bo, as far as hi* condition and the weather would permit. Progress of Australia.

The visiting statesman said he had been impressed by the rapid progress which Australia had made. He tlioOght the Commonwealth would be wise to avoid the great evils which resulted from a mixture of races and of peoples of different planes of civilisation. As he saw it, the principle of the white Australia policy was being applied in a wise manner. One fact with which he had been impressed was that it was being proved to be possible that white men could work much further north than had hitherto boen supposed. This was especially noticcable in the sugar industry of Queensland. So far as the migration of peoples from Southern Europa was concerned, Mr. Amery said there were no signs of excessive numbers. "When you see a dozen shop signs with Greek names in a city or town it looks to be a lot, but my impression -was that these and the Italians and other Southern Europeans were a good type, and were being easily assimilated into Australian life. They become consumers, and then thev help to create the need for more labour," which is good for the country, Asked if he thought there was too much immigration to Australia, Mr. Amery replied with an emphatic "}Co." Back in Auckland.

Taking in the view from the deck of the Niagara, Mr. Amery said that the city of Auckland seemed to have grown considerably, but* otherwise it was much the same as on his former visit, "J will need to go up Mount Eden again, a? I did with Sir James Parr," he said, "before J can form a correct impression,"

Ihe visitor gives the impression of really glad to be back in this Dominion to engage in further tour, He has kindly thoughts for the Maori people, and when be speaks of racial relationships he reeqgnisos the, happy conditions that prevail in this country.