AUSTRALIAN MINISTER

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 September 1938, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN MINISTER

WELCOMED AT WELLINGTON FRIENDSHIP PROCLAIMED [PEB pbess association.! WELLINGTON, September 6. Sir Earle Page, Deputy-Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Australia, arrived in Wellington to-day. He was given a civic reception by the Mayor. Hon. P. Fraser spoke on behalf of

the Government. The theme of the speeches was the closeness of the; bonds between Australia and New 1 Zealand, which had common aims and responsibilities. ( “We in Australia take a good deal! of pride in the thought that we start-' ed you off on the road 100 years ago, so much so that, in 1940, we will send a good many thousands of people across to see that you are carrying on the job as you should,” said Sir fcarle Page, when replying to the speeches at the civic reception. As Minister of Commerce, he said, it had given him a good deal of pleasure in assisting to make the Australian exhibit worthy of the Centennial Exhibition. ’ Several States were vieing with each other to make the display one well worth while. He said that he had been very interested in the extraordinary improvement and development which had been .made in New Zealand during the thirteen years sint-e his last visit, particularly in great hydro-electric developments at Arapuni and elsewhere, and in the wonderful results achieved in the light soil areas, which then had been expanses of waste land. What had been achieved in those volcanic areas was an inspiration and a challenge to Australia to take in hand areas of her own land. Australia was very glad to co-operate with New Zealand in the provision and improvement of communication and travel facilities. The Empire air mail scheme would soon be complete between Britain and New Zealand, through the establishment of a service between Australia and the Dominion, and interest was being stimulated by co-operation between the travel promotion organisations of botn countries. Together, Australia and New Zealand should be able to attract many more people from other parts of the world than either could do separately. “But,” he continued, “there should also be the fullest interchange of visits of the rank and file of citizens, so that they can appreciate to the full the problems that are before them. Our destinies undoubtedly lie together. We are the two furthest outposts of the British Empire. Yet, strange to say, we are

the most British of all of the Dominions. We have the greatest percentage of British blood. We are destined .to be a bulwark of civilisation for principles for which Britain has always stood, and we can only be bulwarks if we pull together and lend our joint weight to the building up of the Empire to that strength which is the only guarantee of peace in the world.” Common ties binding Australia and New Zealand were emphasised in the speeches made at the State luncheon at Parliament House to-day in honour of the visit of Sir Earle Page. In extending a cordial welcome to Sir Earle Page on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand, Mr Savage referred to the bonds between the two countries, and voiced his conviction that in trade, defence, and other matters, much more could be done than had been achieved in the past. The welcome was endorsed by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. A. Hamilton, who said New Zealand could always learn something from overseas visitors, and they, too, could perhaps learn something from New Zealand. He believed that common interests of Australia and New Zealand amounted to about 90 per cent., and the other 10 per cent, was friendly rivalry.

In a happy speech in reply, Sir Earle Page thanked the Government for the courtesy and wonderful hospitality extended to him on his brief visit, and emphasised that much was to be gained by collaboration between Australia and New Zealand in defence, trade, and general improved relationship.

AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURES (Recd. Sept. 7, 1 p.m.). FREMANTLE, September 7. The Attorney General (Mr. Menzies) upon his arrival from England, stated that overseas markets for Australia’s primary produce were contracting, and if she was to become a powerful self-reliant member of the British family of nations, she would have to become a substantial exporter of manufactured goods. BRITH CONTROL COST (Recd. Sept. 7, 1.30 p.m.). LONDON, September 6. ' Sir Leonard Hill said that the British race was on the downgrade throughout the world. It was not due to crowding. For instance, the Australian and New Zealand birthrate had fallen under seventeen per thousand. He urged the Government to act on lines successful in Germany, to stop the decay of Empire going on through i birth control.