"OUT OF THE WOOD"

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 25, 30 January 1934, Page 9

"OUT OF THE WOOD"

BRITAIN'S PROGRESS.

EMPIRE TRADE GOSPEL

SIR J. S. ALEEN ARRIVES. '"Britain is the one country in the world that is really out of the wood." said Sir John Sandeman Allen, M.P., chairman of the Commercial Committee of the House of Commons, who arrived in Auckland from Sydney by the Wanganella this morning, after a tour of Australia, South Africa and East Africa. Sir John, who is accompanied by Lady Allen, will study Empire trade conditions in the Dominion.

Sir John is chairman-designate of the Federation of the Chambers of Commerce of the Empire, and vice-president and a past chairman of the Royal Empire Society. By an arrangement with the Secretary of State for the Dominions, he hae come unofficially to New Zealand to preach the gospel of Empire. "I am letting people' know what is going on in Great Britain and Europe," he said. "I am telling chem of Britain's recovery and what it means."

Advice to New Zealand. "I have not really grasped the situation in New Zealand, but I will study it," continued Sir John. "I know that New Zealand is struggling through, and lias taken many steps towards recovery. But firm measures of retrenchment are still necessary. You must not think that because you are getting out of the wood you can go ahead as before.

"Yes, Britain is out of the wood, but nobody knows what America is going to do. She has lost the confidence of the world. I do not think that any action by America will disturb our sterling materially. We must go slow just the same. America is so uncertain, and has been for so long, that if there had been any serious danger of affecting sterling it would have shown itself before this. "Trad© within the Empire must be the bulwark for Britain's trade," said Sir John. "That must be the sheet anchor, but we must also trade with the rest of the world. Forty-eight per cent of Britain's trade is within the Empire, but we must not forget that there is ; another 52 per cent to be considered."

While in Auckland Sir John and Lady Sandeman Allen will stay at Heme Bay with Mr. G. W. Spencer, a nephew of Sir John's. On Sunday they will go to the Waitangi celebrations, and after that Sir John will travel south. Towards the end of February Sir John and Lady Sandeman Allen will be the guests of his Excellency the Oovernor-General. They will di '"o with their Excellencies this evening.

Although no definite programme has been arranged by Sir John during his tour of the Dominion, he expects to talk at various luncheons and give public addresses and broadcasts. He will address Fellows of the Royal Empire Society in Auckland and also the Chamber of Commerce. He expects to deliver his first address on Thursday.

Accident On Ship. A genial personality, Sir John was a popular figure on board ship. Shortly after leaving Sydney, he slipped and tore the muscles of his shoulder, and at the moment he has his left arm in a sling. Since 1924 Sir John has represented the West Derby Constituency in the House of Commons. He was knighted in 1928 for political and public services. For many years he was general manager of the Union Marine Insurance Company and chairman of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce. Ho also served on the Liverpool City Council and the council of the Liverpool University. He has been chairman of the Joint East Africa Advisory Board and of- the Association of British Chambers of Commerce.

"I feel that I have some connection with New Zealand," said Sir John. "I married a Christchurch girl, Miss Amy Spencer, 4G years ago, and we were married for over 30 years. The present Lady Sandeman Allen is a very keen Empire worker and I am sur© that she will give addresses to any women's organisations which approach her. She did so in Australia and South Africa."