BOOM AFTER WAR?

Evening Star, Issue 23497, 10 February 1940, Page 8

BOOM AFTER WAR?

NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS BUSINESS MAN’S VIEW “ Although our immediate job to prepare for the exigencies of war, 1 behove that when Germany has been defeated and we have recovered from the effects of the conflict Australia and New Zealand can look forward to a boom period and the settlement on the land in both dominions of largo numbers of American migrants of a very desirable type,” said Mr H. C. Annstrong, of Sydney, chairman of directors of Armstrong and Springhall Ltd., who has arrived in New Zealand after a two years’ tour of the world. Mr Armstrong is a strong believer in the development of good relations with tho United States, and 25 years ago was instrumental ia organising, a petition which was presented to the then Prime Minister of Australia (Mr Hughes), and which resulted in the establishment of an Australian office in New York. “Now a Minister to the United States has been appointed,” he said in an interview with ‘ The Post.’ “ I wanted to get a reliable crosssection of American opinion about Australia and New Zealand,” he said, “ and so, during my recent tour, I bought a car ana travelled 10,000 miles in it throughout the States. I found nothing but the friendliest attitude towards these two dominions, and encountered many farmers of the good, solid type who wanted to know what chance there was of obtaining land in this part of the world. I met many of them from tho so-called ‘ dust bowl,’ whose farms had been destroyed by drought and wind and soil erosion, and who were touring the country in caravans looking for fresh land. They are part of the sound underlying section of the American people" who believe in the close friendship and co-operation of the Englishspeaking peoples. “ I believe that Australia and New Zealand can interpret the Empire to American people better than England can.” he said NAZI GERMANY. Referring to his travels in Europe, Mr Armstrong said that to speak of the possible occurrence of internal rebellion against Nazi rule was just wishful thinking of the worst kind. The present struggle -would not be easy or short, though there could, of .course, be no doubt of the Allies’ eventual victory. Mr Armstrong said that when he was in Germany as far back as seven years ago, a guide, who was able intake him off the beaten track followed by most strangers,, enabled him to see the tremendous activity everywhere in the construction of aerodromes, fortifications, and military works of all kinds. He felt then how necessary it was that England and the Empire should really wake up to what was afoot and begin making preparations accordingly. Mr Armstrong was last in Germany just before Munich, and said that even at that time there was rationing‘of foodstuffs, which would, however, not be noticed by travellers staying at hotels, where there was no apparent deficiency. For instance, one hotel he was staying at provided' ample butter on the tables, but when he went to visit a family in the same city, and a well-to-do family at that, they apologised for not being able to give him his English bread and butter, and explained that they had no butter. THANKS TO FUHRER.

Everywhere in Germany there were notices exhorting the people to thank the Fnhrer for this and that, and the extent to which the phrase, “Hell, Hitler,” was spoken was extraordinary. The fact was that the whole nation was so closely regimented and controlled that everyone was frightened to do otherwise. In factories, in restaurants, in the streets, everywhere, there were watchers. In fact, it was sometimes said in Germany by those people not altogether in sympathy with their Government that the only time they felt comfortable was when the servants were out and the children .were in bed. They were actually frightened of their own children.

Mr Armstrong added that tales of Nazi brutality and persecution were not exaggerated. He had personal knowledge of cases of it, but could not give details for fear of it affecting friends still in Germany. _ As far as the Empire is concerned, Mr Armstrong is certain that the war will draw the dominions closer together rather than dismember the Imperial structure.