OUTLOOK ABROAD

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 122, 16 February 1935, Page 9

OUTLOOK ABROAD

Auckland Lecturer Returns ECONOMIC SITUATION First-hand knowledge of overseas conditions, and the opportunity of meeting farmers, business men and university people, were obtained by Mr. H. ft. Rodwell, exchange lecturer from Auckland University College, who has spent about 15 months abroad on the economics staff at Leeds University. He returned by the Rangitiki yesterday morning, together with his •wife and family, and will take up bis position as economics lecturer at Auckland College shortly During his time abroad he explored and gained information about many aspects of the economic situation, and says he considers the exchange system of lecturers a very beneficial and desirable step.

A big bid was being made in England to encourage farmers, but difficulty was encountered in the shape of traditional practices he told a reporter yesterday. It was hard to get the mass of the farmers there to develop very much, but Major Eliiot. and'possiblv the British Government, was behind the changes that were being made. There was a noticeable improvement in the milk industry, and the sugar beet industry, which had to be heavily subsidised. as it could not be carried on without- some form of protection from foreign competition There was no doubt' that quotas had been one of the facto: s in the development of English agriculture. He thought it possible that a quota might soap lie imposed on butter. He expressed pleasure that New Zealand butter had found a market in America. In bis opinion New Zealand had plenty of other markets for this product, and should explore them as fully as possible. Australia’s move in sending out trade commissioners to the East was an excellent one. and he thought that it would be advantageous for New Zealand to carry out the same policy. As far as universities in Great Britain were concerned, he had found that Tweeds was very similar in its requirements to the University of New Zealand. The standard set in the NewZealand colleges compared more than favourably with that of the provincial universities in England. He had met. a number of New Zealanders abroad, including Mr. F. B. Stevens, studying local government in London, and Dr. J. B. Condliffe, Mr. E. J. Ritchie and Mr. J. V. Wilson, on the staff, of the League of Nations at Geneva. New Zealanders were always spoken of very highly by those people whom he had met. It was true that the country could be better known, and that tliere was as vet more room for advertising. The Dairy Board and other institutions were, however, doing extraordinarily good work, particularly in the North of England. The economic policy ,of self-depend-ance was fairly prevalent on the Continent. It was to be found in England, too. but to a lesser extent. France had in particular tended toward maintaining a “splendid isolation,” but there were signs in Continental countries, of a broadening outlook and the breaking down of trade barriers. The political situation in England had been brighter than it had been for many years. Public opinion could soon be prepared for a loosening of the fetters of international trade, he said, but this task must be tackled gradually, and care was necessary to bring it about. Despite the feeling that the League of Nations was losing power, he considered it was economically stronger than ever. The steady work of its permanent staff was having extraordinary results. Continuous work was being done in the interests of the nations, and judgment of the League should not be based upon its imposing assembly, but upon the work of, its permanent staff. ....