TASMAN CONTRASTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 254, 26 October 1928, Page 9

TASMAN CONTRASTS.

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

AN AUCKLANDER'S VIEW.

ADVANTAGE WITH NEW ZEALAND.

After a fairly lengthy sojourn in Australia, Mr. D. R. Caldwell returned to Auckland by the Niagara on Monday firmly convinced that the Dominion is a better place to live in than the Commonwealth.

'T was from three to four months in Queensland." he said to a "Star" representative to-day, "principally in the north—Townsville, Cairns and further north, Yungaberra and Atherton. From a climatic point of view, especially north of Brisbane, Queensland as a 'winter resort has, in my opinion, no equal, and I have wintered in all the well-known European, American and African resorts. Clear, dry air, always sunny and warm, with cool nights, make a stay there wonderfully attractive. From other aspects, however, things were not so favourable as when * I wintered there three years ago. After going carefully into farming prospects, I came away then with the impression that a young man with moderate capital was Masting his time staying in New Zealand and that Queensland was the place. I met some of the young fanners who were then very prosperous, but when I met them again this time they had had a three-year drought, and there were no signs of it breaking when I left, and they were in a very bad way. Stock was all gone and they were just holding on at the will of. the stock and station companies. Of course, this only applies to about one-third of Queensland. In other parts fair rainfall was recorded and pastoralists are apparently doing well, as cattle are bringing big prices and wool also provides fair returns. Heavy taxation, basic wages and short hours and high prices for all commodities do not leave much of a return on capital outlay, however.

"I was in Townsville and Brisbane during three strikes, and had to return from Brisbane to Sydney by a Japanese steamer, all others being laid up. The Communist element is Very strong throughout the ports of Queensland —not numerically, but, being militant, they frighten the moderates. The Labour Government sat on the fence, but great credit is due to Mr. S. M. Bruce, the Federal Premier, for his prompt and repressive measures in protecting free labour. But for these measures the strike would have extended, with very grave results. When I left the employers had decided to continue giving employment to those engaged during the strike. I .sincerely hope they will have the backbone to carry this through. It may mean the deathnote to preference to unionists, but they have brought this upon themselves. Workers to whom I spoke and who were not in favour of the strike, and, of course, out of a job, said that if the employers, especially the shipping, upheld this position they would have two-thirds of the workers with them. In the past they have always beesacrificed by employers giving way, dismissing volunteers and accepting the strikers again. "Business throughout Australia is bad," continued Mr. Caldwell. "Nearly -every class is complaining. Heavy taxation, high tariffs, huge borrowing and labour troubles are the principal causes. Some of the bigger men in Sydney with whom I conversed were decidedly pessimistic. Secondary industries were supported by very high tariffs. A high basic wage was then necessary and short hours and constant labour troubles, combined with huge interest on borrowings by State and Federal Governments, necessitated heavy taxation and high prices. All of this must be continued or a collapse would result. These men considered the foundation unsound.

"On the whole, I think we New Zealanders had better remain where we are. It may not be exactly God's own country, but it's better than many others. Politically I have learned one lesson from my visit—that we can only have two parties, Labour or anti-Labour—and if we are against Labour ruling and wish for sane government and protection of law and order, then we should get together and form one strong party, otherwise we are obviously playing into the hands of Labour, and I have seen enough of their rule in Queensland to say, 'God protect us from that!'"