"BEST IN WORLD,"

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 304, 26 December 1939, Page 4

"BEST IN WORLD,"

N.Z. ATTRACTIONS.

VISITING M.P.'S OPINION.

COMMONWEALTH'S PROBLEMS.

"I lived in New Zealand from MO3 to 1908 and I still think it is place in the world to come for a holiday." That was the opinion expressed by Mr. C. G. Latham, M.L.A., wlien 'he arrived here on a visit. He is Leiuler of the Country Party in thfr West Australian Parliament and a practical farmer of many years' experience. "When I was in New Zealand f Vas with the Public Works Department, and I helped to build your North Island Main Trunk line," lie added, "and afterworked around Waikaka, near Gore, in the South Island."

He said that the Country party in West Australia held 12 out of 50 seats in the Lower House and seven out of 30 in <the L'pper House. '"As far as Australia is concerned there is a serious problem to "be solved on the question of markets," Mr. Latham said. "This affects my State particularly, where there is a big wheat crop." Fruit was also affect-ed, but most other primary products had been fully bought up by the Imperial Government. In fruit and wheat there would probably be a seasonal 'carry over" of about half the crop. Without available shipping it would be impossible to market the surplus, but 'the Commonwealth Government would purchase the produce and pay the farmers a minimum price. He pointed out that it was more convenient for the LTnited Kingdom to purchase from Canada and the Argentine, which were closer and easier for the convoy system. Convoys could make several trips in the time required for one voyage to and from Australia. Mr. Latham concluded by sayinor that when he attended the Jubilee Celebrations in London in 1935 he met the Hon. P. Fraser, Minister of Education, and the Hon. Mark Fagan, and was greatly impieseed by them. In some wav> New Zealand's problems from the farming point of view were also those of west Australia.