GUEST OF STATE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 59, 7 September 1938, Page 6

GUEST OF STATE

SIR EARLE PAGE

CLOSER RELATIONSHIP

AUSTRALIA AND N.Z.

All three speeches made at the State luncheon at Parliament House yesterday in honour of the Rt. Hon. Sir Earle Page, G.C.M.G., Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Australia, emphasised the common ties binding Australia and New Zealand as neighbours and as units in the British Commonwealth of Nations. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), who presided, voiced his conviction that in trade and defence and other matters much more could be done than had been achieved in the past, and his sentiments were endorsed by the guest of honour.

Those present included members of Cabinet, members of both Houses of Parliament, heads of several Government Departments, and other prominent citizens. ,

The name and work 6f their distinguished guest were well known to all, said Mr. Savage, in proposing the toast, "Our Guest." New Zealand was always pleased to welcome people from overseas, and particularly from the overseas Dominions, and those from her nearest neighbour, Australia, were always welcome. (Applause.) In the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia they had a gentleman who was not only ah Australian(in name, but in spirit and everything "Australian" meant. In fact, Sir Earle could probably speak Australian if put to the test. (Laughter.) Mr. Savage said he'hoped that when he left New' Zealand Sir Earle would feel that he was leaving friends-behind him. • "EVERYTHING IN COMMON." "I am not going to talk about potatoes today," : Mr. Savage continued, amid laughter. "We will talk about potatoes and oranges in the days to come, but I do think that .coming from the same stock and speaking the same language, and having in common everything that is peculiar to the British race, we should be able to do better than we have done in the past; that is, in trade matters and our general relationship. I don't think we have been quite so close together as we might have been in the reality of things." It was just a question of plain common sense, and he thought it was possible for the two countries to come closer to each other in trade relations in the future. Mr. Savage said that, looking at world conditions as they were today, it seemed to him to be within the bounds of possibility that things might happen that, whether they liked it or not, would bring Australia and New, Zealand nearer than they had been. They had common interests, and while they were all hoping for the best, they did not know what the future had in store for them. For that reason Australia and New Zealand were wrapped up in each other's welfare, and if it came to armed conflict they must stand together. It seemed to him that they should be able to stand together in times of peace, and he believed they could. The world was calling^ today, for someone to lead the'way to common sense and international peace, and the; farflung parts of the British Commonwealth might be able to help in that direction. Men did not go to war because they loved it, but because of fundamental problems. Who could say that the solution ol the world's problems- might not be found somewhere in the Pacific area without war? In conclusion, Mr. Savage said that the welcome He was extendnig to Sir Earle Page was a real welcome not only from Parliament, but from the hearts of the people of New Zealand. (Applause.) BALANCE OF TRADE. The Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. A. Hamilton) said that he was pleased to have the privilege of enr dorsing what the Prime Minister had said and of offering to their distinguished visitor a most cordial welcome to the Dominion., New Zealand could learn from such visitors, and they might also learn something from their visits. He believed that the common interests between Australia and New Zealand were about 90 per cent.j of 'their relationship and that the remaining 10 per cent, was purely friendly rivalry. It was true that the trade balance was three to one in favour of Australia, but it was New Zealand's job to try to even up the position. On the whole, New Zealand looked upon Australia as her nearest and most friendly neighbour. Mr. Hamilton said he was sure that Sir Earle would go away with pleasant memories of New Zealand. . . _. In a happy speech m reply, Sir Earle Page thanked the Government for the courtesy and wonderful hospitality that had been extended to him during his few days in the Dominion. The Australian Government, he said, had joined with the New Zealand Government in every effort to improve communications between the two countries, and the air-mail service shortly to be established would close the gap still further In fact, New Zealand was closer to the Federal caiptal, Canberra, than some parts of the Commonwealth itself, and. there could be no excuse for not having the most cordial co-operation between" the two countries. He welcomed the assurances of the two previous speakers that/ even closer co-operation than in the past was desirable. JOINED BY BIG ISSUES. There could be no question that the destinies of Australia and New Zealand lay along the same path, Sir Earle continued, and it was therefore imperative that they should pull together. Whatever the small issues that might separate them they were insignificant in comparison with the big issues that should join the two countries. He believed that their greatest common interest was that of defence. Australia and New Zealand had to defend themselves.. There was no question of their productivity and resources and they should be bulwarks of the Empire. But to possess adequate defence they must, first of all, have adequate populations, and to ensure that those populations could be maintained they must have efficient marketing systems, both internal and external. He believed that such marketing was not possible unless Australia and New Zealand planned in co-operation. . The question of the potato embargo, although it was said to be a political matter, was really a matter that had arisen because of unregulated and un-co-ordinated production in the two countries. He was afraid that if they did not try to secure some planned method of production and marketing, the problem as it now affected potatoes would spread to other products. In [the Australian Agricultural Council, formed in 1934, a start had already been made to create machinery to help in planning for agricultural co-opera-tion. New Zealand had been invited join in the discussions of the coun-

cil and had already taken advantage of the invitation. SECONDARY INDUSTRIES. A plan of co-operation in the development of secondary industries must follow in due course, • because it was obvious that industries in both Dominions were going to have a ; better chance, if they had opportunities in the whole market rather than in/., portion of it, Sir Earle continued.* There was no doubt that New Zealand had huge opportunities of developing water power, and already magnificent use ( was being made of it. The Dominion should be an ideal home for electrochemical industries, which should be able to supply both the Dominions, while Australia could supply New Zealand's population with basic materials for manufacture and other goods for which it was specially adapted. "Australia's position in relation to New Zealand is rapidly becoming somewhat similar to the relationship between Australia and Britain in this matter and one of the most striking results of the recent discussions which took place between Australian and British Ministers in London was the frank recognition of this to plan industrial development of both countries to ensure that the maximum value for both should be obtained from existing assets, and that the lines of development should not be unnecessarily conflicting," said Sir Earle. "In fact, it was felt that such a policy was most likely to ensure the rapid development of Australian secondary industries and increase her population. In proceeding along these lines we are both most likely to develop population and industries and make the Empire sufficiently strong and well balanced to guarantee the peace of the world. World peace must be the essential basis on which the restoration of international trade can be built, dependent as that is on the resumption of international lending which can only come with the creation of political stability and international confidence." (Applause.)

The singing of "Auld Lang Syne" brought the function to a close.