“FINANCIALLY SOUND"

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 98, 21 January 1924, Page 7

“FINANCIALLY SOUND"

TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND RECIPROCITY WITH AUSTRALIA 1 “Of many countries in which I have travelled, I know Now Zealand thoroughly, from Auckland to the Bluff, and I have no hesitation in saying that it is financially sound, has enjoyed good government always, and is a country in which no man need be poor, if he is prepared to work.” Side by side with almost equal praise for his own country, Australia, Mr. Walter Leitch, a member of the Commonwealth Tariff Board, spoke in this strain to a representative of The Dominion on Saturday, prior to his departure for Auckland to meet Mr. Herbert Brookes, another 'inember of the Tariff Jfbard, who has been, at tho Geneva Convention, and is returning by the Makura. “Australia, where I have been many years, is a wonderful country, with its varieties of climate, that enable it to grow anything that can be grown in any part of the world, besides being immensely rich in minerals. But you in New Zealand have such an equhble climate, very seldom getting a drought, and, the consequence is that you get fairly uniform seasons. Although New Zealand is a country without many millionaires, still one. sees practically no poverty in the Dominion. Everyone looks prosperous, well dressed. and well fed. I really believe there is no. excuse for poverty here. “I think your Government is very solid —always has been solid—and the country is financially, industrially, and commercially sound. . I have had the privilege to meet -many of your public men, particularly the Minister of Trade and Customs, Mr. W. D- Stewart, who created such a favourable impression in Australia, when he went oyer to discuss reciprocity with the .Federal Government. We hope that the arrangements tliat were then made have proved fo be satisfactory to both countries, and we in Australia are looking forward to further reciprocity as time goes on.” Mr. Leitch discussed reciprocity m moderate detail, saying that rhe basis of the arftngement was favourednation, treatment for primary products from the Dominion and manufactures from the Commonwealth. .He mentioned specifically dried fruits. as an item on which New Zealand, . it was hoped, would grant preferential treatment under the reciprocity treaty. New Zealand was not producing them, but their quality in the irrigated territories of the Murray River valley were very high. n “What has particularly pleased me, added the visitor, “is the large number of plantations of Rims Insignes that have been put in, especially at Hamner Plains. These soft-wood forests, in the light of the prospective world shortage, should bo a. big -asset to New Zealand.” . Mr. Leitch did not discuss the wheat situation, or the question of raising the embargo on potatoes.