A VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 522, 1 June 1909, Page 9

A VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

HON. S. T. GEORGE INTERVIEWED. <BT TEtEOSASH—SrECUL COERESPONDENT.) .; ' '•. . Auckland, May 31. i* A favourable opinion, of tho commercial position of Australia has been brought hack by tho Hon. S. Thome.George, who has just returned from a visit; to - tho" Commonwealth.:; He stated to a "Herald" reporter on Saturday that things appeared to be brisk, and-, there was no. apparent indication, of depression: Money, had been somewhat tight, but it was now ■ getting 6aSier. .'•*:•.■ ■>~ : ''I notice, however," ho added, "that the cablegrams ; from; New .Zealand, published in the Australian papers, are iull of the -depression,' and . the,, departure -of people from the ; Dominion. These subjects are occasionally varied by a reference to an exWwn : Jf. ; Ngatiruhw, :°r > statement that ! White. Island has blown up, thus giving ! the impression, that Now Zealand is absolutely gdirig to the dogs.. There is also a very great, deal about the large number of steerage passengers that are carried by the steamers- from New . Zealand to Australia, and 0 it is implied that this . 'represents, a great exodus of New 'Zealanders, consequent upon - the depression here. Whole- families, including four, five, and six children, are often included in the lists. '. New Zealanders of this class /are not in the habit of. travelling this .way, and I tbink that those people,, are more probably some of the .'assisted immigrants, who, failing to. find employment immediately on their; arrival here, and hav!V g . 0 ,little money, have dccided to seolj their fortunes in Australiai , ' ; •