"FIRST OUT OF WOOD."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 198, 22 August 1932, Page 5

"FIRST OUT OF WOOD."

DOMINION'S PROSPECT. VIEWS OE FORMER MINISTER. IMPRESSIONS OF AUSTRALIA. "My candid opinion is that despite the fact that New Zealand did not feel the depression until long after Australia, the Dominion will be out of the wood as soon as. if not sooner, than the Commonwealth," said Mr. P. A. de la Perrelle, who was Minister of Internal Affairs in the Forbes Cabinet, and returned by the A v orangi this morning after spending a two months' holiday in Australia. He visited New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and West Australia.

"Of course there has been a temporary lift on the other side," he said, "but that is mainly due to a change of Government. The purse strings have been loosened somewhat, and the great hope of the people is that the change will be permanent. The depression, however, is playing havoc ■ with thousands in every State. Some impetus has been given to the building trade by the erection of new business premises in a number of cities, and this, of course, has eased the unemployment situation somewhat. But in the agricultural industries there are many sad cases due to the low prices obtained for products. What Was Thought. "Many people in Australia had got it into their heads that they were destined to become a great manufacturing country," continued Mr. de la Perrelle. "They went so far as to think that England would be a purchaser of their manufactures. This, of course, has proved a fallacy. Australia is in the same position as New Zealand, and mustrealise that prosperity lies in the maintenance and expansion of primary production. If England is to take the products of Australia and New Zealand that come from the land, then there must be a quid pro quo. We must be prepared to buy 'manufactured articles from England." Referring to his visit to West Australia, Mr. de la Perrelle said he considered that State held opportunities for young men who were prepared to take off their coats and turn up their sleeves and work the land. Dairying was going ahead by leaps and bounds, and the land was ridiculously cheap. A good deal of clearing had to be done, but the Government was assisting generously in that direction. He had noticed that the farmers had not realised the advantages of putting lime on the land. They had not gone in for fertilisers at all, and much of the land he had seen was similar to land in Southland, which responded magnificently to treatment with lime. Small-Farm Scheme. "The various State Governments are most interested in New Zealand's smallfarm scheme," said Mr. de la Perrelle, "and I have been asked to supply details to the Victorian Government. They all seem inclined to follow New Zealand's lead." There was a strong determination to get rid of the "dole" system, and vari.ous Governments were steadily moving lit that direction. It was generally regretted that the system had ever been introduced. .' ,-