AUSTRALIA TO-DAY.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20919, 28 July 1933, Page 12

AUSTRALIA TO-DAY.

DEPRESSION NOT MENTIONED. COLONEL G. J. SMITH'S IMPRESSIONS. "I heard nobody mention the depression in Australia," said Colonel G. J. Smith, interviewed yesterday on his return from a holiday visit to Australia, ' i had to ask people about it before they thought of it, for with them it was a thing of the past." The persons in the streets in Sydney and Melbourne —in the shops and the tramcars and the trains—all seemed exceedingly cheerful and bright, he said, Speaking to Australian business men, Colonel Smith had to ask, "How is the depression?" before any mention was made of trying times, and the replies generally conveyed the impression: "Thank Heaven, that is all over. Now we can get down to business." The general impression was that business people in Australia were gaining confidence and had realised that spending money in a reasonable way instead of hoarding it was the best course. He had been assured on several occasions that there was any amount of money available for investment in soundly based enterprises. New South Wales was shaking olf the effects of the Lang regime, and the general relief at the establishment of sound government had resulted in a renewal of financial confidence. Defence Problems. Recently a great deal of attention had been paid to the overhaul of Australia's defence organisation, but outside of political circles not much interest was taken in the subject. However, he had gathered that Australia was following the lead of the Old Country in this matter, reorganising the whole of its defence forces, mechanising its army, and paying particular attention to the air force. In khis it was following the lead of Canada and South Africa. He had been greatly impressed by the munitions factory at Melbourne, which was capable of turning out anything from big shells to small-arms munitions, and could supply the needs of both Australia and New Zealand if an arrangement was come to. Colonel Smith had discussed with the representative in the Federal Parliament of the Northern Territory the future of North Australia, in which there was great interest at present. He had pointed out that some years ago representatives of a large English syndicate had been] prepared to build a railway across Australia if they were given some concession such as had been made to the Canadian Pacific Railway. At that time politicians had considered the time unsuitable for such an undertaking. The result was that the Northern Territory was now undeveloped, and its non-occu-pation was a definite menace to Australia. Trade with the East. The question of trade with the East had also been a common topic of discussion." Opinions were divided in Australia concerning the value of the recent tour of the Dutch East Indies by a goodwill ship, but it appeared that those who had made use of the'businessopportunities offered had benefited by them while those who had merely looked for hospitality had received nothing more than hospitality. One Melbourne business man said that he had been perfectly satisfied with the tour, for from it he had concluded business worth £6OOO. It was a fact that Australia practically controlled whatever trade there was from Australia and New Zealand to the East, said Colonel Smith. It was time, he thought, that New Zealand woke up. Some joint action should be undertaken by manufacturers, merchants, and primary producers to secure some of the trade that was waiting for them in the East. He had heard that New Zealand goods were really asked for, for their quality was superior to that of a great part of the Australian goods sent to the East. However, the question of price came into the final consideration. In conclusion Colonel Smith said that he wished to pay a tribute to the unfailing courtesy and helpfulness of the police, the tramway and train conductors, and the people generally of the Australian cities. He had been a little astonished by it, for it was a great change from things as they were when he last visited the Commonwealth in 19<24.