MAN OF IDEAS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 19 September 1938, Page 10

MAN OF IDEAS.

MR. FRANK GOLDBERG,

THE DEMOCRATIC VIEW.

AUSTRALIA AND DOMINION

Energy is expressed in the rapid-fire conversation, vitality of personality and vigour of opinions of Mr. Frank Goldberg, governing director of the Goldberg Advertising Agency of Australia and New Zealand, who arrived this morning by the Monterey from Australia. A man of ideas, he expressed himself

vividly in an interview on a wide range of subjects, from the business prosperity of Australia, the coal strike, and other matters to international affairs and the ideals of democracy.

Business in Australia, he said, was in excellent shape. There was a marked upward tendency, the result of stable government. The people of Australia were contented in every way. The progressive measures introduced in New South Wales, the expanded public works programme, and other things, were being well 3 received generally. They were making more work, and that meant more spending in the community in the right way. "The Money to Do It." "The Government there has got the money to do it," he said. "That doesn't mean"that you haven't got it here. Australia has a very good Government, and it is adopting more democratic measures. The-Labour-factions in Australia are fighting ' among ' themselves. Most of the enactments are in accordance with the needs, of v the future of democracy and of the people."

1 ThV- Commonwealth was viewing the immigration problem with pride and caution, lie said, and the immigrants admitted k were of the tested type who would .be'an acquisition to Australia in industries, commerce and the professions. They would not displace Australians, hut' wouldrimplement Australian industry and her future prosperity. Among them was an unusual type of scientist and research worker, who was finding a. niche in Australia, which, must ultimately benefit the country.

Referring to the coal strike, Mr. Goldberg said that in his opinion it would not be a long drawn-out struggle. Both the employers and the unions were realising that when agreements were made they should be kept. The Government could not step in and interfere with the laws of the Arbitration Court. The Government and the people Sympathised with the miners in their condition*, and those matters, would be looked into at the right time. As regards any alteration' totheTawards, that would not be done until *the agreed time, when ' the present awards had expired. Need for Co-operation. "We are looking forward keenly in Australia to New Zealand's Centennial celebrations in. 1940," said Mr. Gold- : berg. K," Those ;■ Anzacs who came over •last;AprilJfor* the,great march through sesquicentenary celebrations! created; a; profound impression, andlthe} invitation 'for Australia to send a 5 contingent jto J the Dominion in 1940 | was a These countries have so muchjin common that anything jpfjthisfnature,* tending to draw them is to be heartilv welcomed.*,ilk I Is, "World f conditions to-day show us ! morejand more clearly the value of two such j great fdemocracies within the Em|.P ire >laad/Xew|Zealanders, like Austra- ; most jealouslv the ; mutual goodwill" they enjoy,* for the sake of posteritv. -*> mere, is a widespread impression in Australia that Xew Zealand is indulging inifar>.to<r»much experimental legisla" tion;of {a.< Utopian character, instead of concentrating on preserving her stability, sf Of -how true that is, the people of Xew Zealand are much better judges than a' mere ; % outsider can be, hm? I would-like to see in this country a deepening of civic eonsciousne** and" responsibility." .; '■< ' ' Apathy's Danger. Mr. Goldberg spoke tJien of the apathy towards politics generally, which he said lie had observed in Xew 'Zealand. That remark applied especially to the average business man.

"The very foundations of our civilisation are being more imperilled to-day by the menace of dictatorship than ever they,were by the comparatively harmless bogy of Communism," he said. "Looking around us we see on every hand direct evidence of the fortunate position we occupy as citizens of the British Empire. To no countries does this apply more forcibly than to Australia and Xew Zealand."

- People would laugh if he envisaged a not far distant day when New Zealand would be under t'le heel of a dictatorship, but they had laughed in Europe also. Politics affected everybody, and democracy could onWhe safeguarded bv everyone taking an intelligent and practical interest in their own political situation.

It was sometimes remarked that all politicians were alike and could not be trusted, but politicians were not all bad. Whether a man was a rabid Socialist or the most reactionary Tory, if he were trying to do something for" his country he should be given credit for his good intentions.

"The average Australian takes a keen interest in hie domestic welfare as represented by his local politics, and is a happier and more contented man because of it. It would surprise anvone who did not understand the Australian temperament to hear how familiarly and even affectionately everyone calls" the Prime Minister. Mr. Lyons, by his Christian name. To nine out of 10 'people he is just 'Joe.' Billy Hughes, now 71. is another example. To the Australians he is almost a national hero. There is a friendliness, about Australian pclitics that seems to be lacking to a great extent in New Zealand."