Canadian Reassures On N.Z.’s Future

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30062, 21 February 1963, Page 17

Canadian Reassures On N.Z.’s Future

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 20.

The E.E.C. cloud hanging over New Zealand had been removed temporarily, but no matter what eventually happened the country’s long-term future could not help but be assured, said the High Commissioner for Canada (Mr G. R. Heasman) at a farewell luncheon held in Wellington today for him by the Wellington branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

“I feel that New Zealand’s markets will lie more with the countries to the north and east, such as Indonesia and Malaya with their millions. Their standard of living is improving, even if slowly, and as their demand for food and other products grows so will tirade with New Zealand,’’ he said. “During our stay in New Zealand we have seen many new developments. In the short time we have been in New Zealand we have seen the geothermal power pro, ject at Wairakei come into operation. Only two other countries have anything of comparable size—lceland and Italy. “When we arrived there was a power shortage, but there is now a plentiful supply of power. We have seen the country’s production of newsprint more than doubled with all that this means in earnings of foreign exchange from exports. “We have observed a tremendous improvement in the tourist hotels and tourist ac-

commodation over the last five years and, finally, we have seen a change of Government. But then I am told by Opposition members that if we stay much longer we may see another,” said Mr Heasman. “New Zealand we will remember as a lovely land where there is very little, if any, poverty, and where the people are said to be the best read in the world; a land where the sheep and the cow is the mainstay of the country, and with nature providing an almost inexhaustible supply of lush grass.” Mr Heasman said he and his wife would think of New Zealanders as people who were good sportsmr-' fond

of outdoor life, and a country of hills, green valleys, and rushing rivers. He said that to him New Zealand would- always be a country of clubs, leagues and associations. He had been told that there were more than 800 of them in the Dominion and that there were more Rotary clubs in the country a head than anywhere else in the world.