GLAD TO BE BACK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1930, Page 18

GLAD TO BE BACK.

NEW ZEALAND EXTOLLED.

CONDITIONS IN AUSTRALIA.

CANDID COMMENTATOR.

"I .am delighted to be here," were the words of a man who has been in Australia for the last four years engaged in work that took him to many, parte of ' the Commonwealth. An Aucklandei, almost shocked to meet a person from Sydney not glowing with enthusiasm, asked what was ,the matter. , I a,m jolly glad to be,back. You can't realise how pleased ' I am," rejoined the returned one, who said things "over there ,-yvei'o in' a deplorable condition, politically and-economically. . ;• " "Goodness knows how they are going •to get out'of it," he continued, "especially with the huge Government loans that are to be met next month. Even if this coal strike is settled they have lost their markets. When I returned to Wellington I noticed letters in the papers by people who alleged "that New Zealanders were always returning to their own country and saying how good it was to be back, and that this Dominion had nothing to. learn from other countries. Well, I • don't blame } them for their pride, and ,all I hope is that New Zealand will - avoid the ■ blunders Australia has made. Australians .themselves have often'said to me that New Zealand should be thankful to her statesmen of long ago who had the courage to say 'No!' .when invited to join the Commonwealth. You only have, to look at Tasmania to prove that. The Navigation Act is bad and the tariff walls of Australia are another iniquity." "Oh, there are dozens of reasons why New Zealand and her people are better off,"' concluded this voluntary champion J of Aotea-roa, as he stepped briskly away, adding, "I will tell you some more another time. Cheerio."