CO-OPERATION WITH DOMINIONS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19622, 18 May 1929, Page 24

CO-OPERATION WITH DOMINIONS.

SIR HUGO HIRST'S VIEWS. (FP.OM OUR OW» COBEBSPOSKEiiT.; LONDON, April 6. Sir Hugo Hirst, chairman of the General Electric Company and a mem ber of the Government Mission which visited Australia, returned to England from New Zealand a few days ago. Since then he has 'addressed some meetings on the subject of Australia. In Bradford yesterday he said that when the mission arrived in Australia, it seemed to be regarded with misgivings, but as a result of conferences with all classes they soon learnt that people there felt that exchange of views with four business men who had nothing in" common but a desire to give serviee was useful even if nothing else arose from those discussions. Mentioning the numerous ways in which development was being fostered in Australia, Sir Hugp said that though Australia had brilliant men it could not produce enough of them to deal with all these problems, and she needed the help of our specialists. The specialist could not help unless he went out there, whether professor from agricultural college or textile or electrical I manufacturer. That was the great lesson the mission had learned. Australians were British and wanted to work with us. It was no use growling if they might do a thing and find it was not the best thing. He had been surprised to find how few of our leaders of industry went to Australia, and how few leading Australians came to this country. People there were surprised to be informed that in spite of some of the troubles in our basic industries how we were holding our own against other countries. Other countries traded on that feeling of doubt about our ability. He had made a point of emphasising how our industries were standing four-square against the American bloc and the Continental bloc, and had invited Australians to come over and see how that fight was going on. He thought there was a chance of co-ordinating Australian and English effort in spite of separate legislation in each State, and that despite differing ambitions there was a chance of achieving economic union. It was hinted to him over there that English manufacturers were not so ready to take Australians into their confidence as were foreign manufacturers as the result of the industrial bitterness in Australia. He sai'l that one of the j proudest things the mission had done was to be instrumental in bringing* about the first Australian industrial conference between employers and Workers. i It had been pointed out to Australians that we as a little nation could not go in for the rigid mass production methods of other countries, and that pur more elastic industries were the better suited to Australian conditions. It must be realised that there was &ot one Australia, but iastead there were six States, each with a keen desire for independence. It be realised also that it was not a continent with so many people to the square mile, but was only possible of being | developed on its fringe. That was why the report recommended intensive instead of extensive development i» toe 1 interior. '