CLOSER TOUCH

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXV, Issue 12912, 14 July 1936, Page 5

CLOSER TOUCH

PREMIER STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF EMPIRE UNITY.

INVESTMENTS IN BRITISH OOUNTRIES URGED. “YOU MUST TRADE WHERE YOU PUT YOUR MONEY.” N.Z. WANTS MORE PEOPLE. PREPARATIONS MUST BE MADE FIRST. i Press Association!. WELLINGTON, July 13. Some of the problems facing the British Commonwealth of Nations in tho immediate future, were dealt with by the Prime Minister, Mr M. J. Savage. in the course of an interview. Mr Savage stressed the need for solidarity among the countries of the Empire. Those in high places, he said, would have to consider the advisability of investing their surplus wealth in British countries. “So long as wo invest our surplus wealth in other countries we have to deal with other countries,” said the Prime Minister. “I do not think the fact that we invest our surplus wealth in countries making up the British Commonwealth of Nations will make us insular in any way. “It is a well-known fact,” continued Mr Savage, “that you must trade where you put your money. When a nation is strong, a commonwealth of nations will bo strong, and when a commonwealth of nations is strong, it will be something worth-while for the rest of the world to deal with. It has been said that the Coronation pieriod is not the correct time for the consideration of important economic questions, hut, in my view, it is the time for laying an economic foundation on which to build. It certainly may not be convenient at the moment, but if a few men remained behind until the job was done, much could bo accomplished.” Asked if it was likely that the Minister of Finance, tho Hon. W. Nas.u, would have to spend a considerable time in Britain, Mr Savage replied that that was quite likely. At the same time, he did not anticipate any hold-up in tho marketing arrangements. as the machinery was riming fairly well. The Government was certainly up against a few people who were trying to throw a spanner into the wheels, but generally there was no difficulty, and there was a desire on all sides to co-operate with the Government. It was quite possible, that mistakes worild be made hut they would be corrected. They could only work in the light of experience. Referring to the problem of migration, Mr Savage said that the building of Now Zealand naturally implied the increasing of its population, “it. would make, it easier to carry on the resources of New Zealand if there is a bigger population,” he said, “hut we must begin at the right end. and we cannot begin a policy of migration without preparing the way at this end. We do not want to repeat old errors, and see ten or twejve men struggling for one job. Any policy of migration must embrace the development of the Dominion’s primary and secondary industries, and wc would not ask for it until we had thoroughly prepared the way.” Tho Prime Minister added that the migrants must he carefully selected. It would he little use bringing inexperienced men out from England, and expect them to make good on the land in New Zealand.