AUSTRIAN CONSUL APPOINTED

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27683, 13 June 1955, Page 7

AUSTRIAN CONSUL APPOINTED

COUNTRY “BACK ON ITS FEET” DIPLOMAT RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA For the first time since the days of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, before World War I, Austria has| established a consular agency in New Zealand. The Austrian Charge d’Affaires in Canberra (Dr. Otto Eiselberg) left Christchurch by Tasman Empire Airways DC-6 for Sydney, on Friday, having completed arrangements for Mr Spencer Clarke, a Wellington businessman, to act as honorary consul. Two and a half years ago Dr. Eiselberg arrived in Australia to establish the Austrian legation in Canberra. This was his third visit to New Zealand. Trade relations between Austria and New Zealand were good, he said. Austria annually bought several hundred thousand pounds’ worth of New Zealand wool and at the same time sold New Zealand about an equal value of manufactured goods (electrical equipment, steel, newsprint, textiles, artificial jewellery, were some Dr. Eiselberg mentioned). New Zealand has quite a number of historic associations with Austria, not the least of them the many colonies of chamois which roam parts of the Southern Alps. Many place names of Austrian origin are also to be found. Dr. Eiselberg has a great affection for the Southern Alps and describes them as “an incomparable combination of glaciers, lakes and mountains.” The alpine scenery of the South Island rivalled any in either Austria or Switzerland, he said. Economically, Austria was in much better shape than she had been between the two world wars, Dr. Eiselberg said. Since the treaty giving sovereignty to Austria had been signed there had been a greats improvement of the already good morale of the people. Reconstruction of damaged industries and rehabilitation of the had been completed some years ago, “but it is always better to be one’s own master and from the business point of view more investments are likely to be made.” The treaty was also a very important step towards easing tension in Europe, he said.

On the cultural side, Austria was also making progress towards regaining its former importance. The Vienna Boys’ Choir was thriving, as New Zealanders and Australians had seen, and the Vienna Opera House was to be opened this year. It would be the most modern opera house in the world, he said.

“Due to Marshall Aid and the very good morale of our workers we have been put back on our feet,” he said.