“A LOVELY COUNTRY”

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 75, 21 December 1928, Page 6

“A LOVELY COUNTRY”

■ VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS After two years’ sojourn in Australia. Sir Hugh E. Poynter, first cousin to the Prime Minister of England (Mr. S. Baldwin), and chairman of directors of Baldwins and J.C.M. (Australia), Pty., Ltd., has arrived in Wellington on a business and holiday trip combined. Prior to taking up residence in Australia, he spent five years in Canada. From what he hag seen of New Zealand he is convinced that it offers the most attractive life to the right type of immigrant. He has not yet seen the South Island, but intends doing so after the New Year. “From what I have seen your country impresses me very, very favourably,” Sir Hugh Poynter told a “Doni inion representative yesterday. “There is a general air of prosperity about the place. It is certainly a lovely country The right type of immigrant should do well in New Zealand, it offers the most attractive life, in my opinion.’ Touching upon the outlook for the steel industry in which, naturally, he is very interested. Sir Hugh said he believed that the reorganisations made bv various companies in the last . year should tend towards improving conditions generally. Perhaps the most marked iiupiovement had taken place in the light steel department, but the heavy steel industry was finding things somewhat difficult, due. very -largely, to over-expansion during the war. He thought, however, that the e 'nq.anies we’( “pulling through” to a certain extent. So far as New Zeamnd was coneernril the scope of businec? was growing all the time. “We appreciate very much the way in which New Zea landers do stick to Empire goods eve’n. I am afraid, sometimes to their detriment,” Sir Hugl added. Asked his opinion on conditions at Home. Sir Hugh said that as he had been absent from the country for a couple of years he was not in a position to say anything. "They are all right, though.” he said. “There are a lot of pessimists at Home, you know. They keep telling us that the country is going to the dogs, but Sir Hugh smiled: “We get there all the same.” Sir Hugh Poynter is returning to Australia about the middle of January, 1