NEW ZEALAND FALLEN IN ENGLISH EYES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 257, 28 July 1939, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND FALLEN IN ENGLISH EYES

* Financial Policy WAR APPREHENSIONS IN LONDON New Zealand had certainly fallen in the estimation of English people on account of her financial policy, said Mr. J. G. Buckleton, Wellington, who returned yesterday by the Rangitata from London. He said that London City men were watching the Dominion’s legislative experiment;; with interest. They were sympathetic with the ideals of her Government, but considered that it was going too fast. There had been talk of New Zealand having to default in payment of her debt; but it had not been seriously believed that she would do so. The opinion was that Mr. Nash would get bis money all right, if he liked to pay the price. There had also been “a bit of a squeal” at Home about New Zealand’s import restrictions; but the attitude generally taken was one of sorrow rather than of hostility to New Zealand.

Business in London was very scarey. Every time a Customs guard was shot on the Bolish frontier the stock market would Hop. However, in his. private opinion war was unlikely. If it came, England was definitely ready for it; August and September especially were being watched. Conscription had been taken in very good part by the bulk of the people. Flying at Brooklands, he had observed tremendous activity in aircraft production, factories turning out war machines in vast numbers. England was spending £2,000,000 a week upon aeroplanes alone. In addition, she possessed the strongest navy in the world. If she was pushed too far, and war came, there was no doubt somebody was going to get a hiding. But it would hurt us in the meantime.

Mr. Buckleton flew Home last April to attend the wedding of his sister, Miss Jean Buckleton, now Mrs. E. H. Hopkins.