VISITING PREMIER

Evening Star, Issue 19779, 1 February 1928, Page 9

VISITING PREMIER

OH HIS HOLIDAY—NO SPEECHES GOVERNMENT REFORM [Special to the ‘ Stab.’] AVELLINGTON, January' 31. The ■ Hon. T. R, Bavin, New South Wales Premier, positively declines to make speeches on serious subjects while he is enjoying his New Zealand holiday. As a Rotarian, he met members of the Wellington Rotary Club at their usual weekly luncheon, and got the nearest to speech-making during his visit. Answering a warm welcome, he declared that he was having a splendid holiday, and had almost forgotten how to make a speech. One of hiswelcomers had mentioned Dean Inge’s caustic statement about political reformers—that tho world would probably have 500,000 years in which to see whether they were right. “Possibly,” said Mr Bavin, “that accmir.fs for my holding an honorable position in my State. The people realise that at any rate they will have half a million years after I have gone in which to put things right.” Wellington’s mayor being on hisright hand, the visiting Premier solemnly assured him that he had not come to New Zealand with the object of imitating the New South Wales Government in suspending the corporation of New Zealand’s capital. He was glad to make this public intimation. TRADE RELATIONS.

Interviewed in Wellington, Mr Bavin touched briefly upon the question of reciprocal trade between Australia a-nd New Zealand. He said he did not wish to enter deeply into the subject of tariff treaties, which was really the concern of tho Federal Government, and was under discussion at the moment. He was quite sure, however, that there were great possibilities of useful interchange of goods between New Zealand and the Commonwealth, which would benefit both countries, particularly in certain products which were not common to both. He hoped that everything that could be done to encourage trade between Australia and New Zealand would be done. “ I have been struck with the extent to which people in N'v Zealand are interested in Australian affairs. I refer more especially to our elections, and with the knowledge that they have of the general outline of political 'history in Australia, particularly in New South Wales, it is extraordinary to find what a large amount of interest was evinced in the last election. The present condition of affairs in tho State is, of course, from my point of view, satisfactory. _ We were returned with a working majority to restore sound and sane government. We have already had one session, during which we passed all the legislation that we tried to pass, and which was most urgent. Next session will be the real working session, in which wo have to undertake tho business of reforming the Legislative Council and of effecting changes in the Governmental finance system so far as the method of keeping public accounts is concerned.” The reformation of tho Legislative Council, Mr Bavin stated, will not be recognised as a party matter, because it is of vital-importance to all parties and whatever legislation on the subject is passed next session will be submitted to a referendum of electors.