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Grey River Argus, 21 March 1945, Page 6

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HON. D. G. SULLIVAN’S IMPRESSIONS. AUCKLAND, March 19. After an absence of almost live months, during which he visited the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom (including Ireland), Italy, and Egypt (where he saw the New Zealand Division), the Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan) returned to Auckland yesterday. The Minister will leave tor Wellington this evening. “The prestige of New Zealand stands extraordinarily high abroad,” said Mr Sullivan. “This is due to the achievements of the New Zealand Division, New Zealand airmen, and New Zealand personnel in the Royal Navy, as well as the Dominion’s war effort as a whole, and the intense and widespread interest that exists jn New Zealand’s record in the fields of social humanitarian, and labour legislation. Everywhere I went 1 had ample evidence of the respect in which our country is held, and it i> something which all New Zealanders should treasure.” Mr Sullivan said that both in Washington and Ottawa his representations on behalf of New Zealand were received most sympathetically, and splendid results were achieved. The Minister also held discussions with British Ministers in regard to the proposals of the New Zealand Government for further development of manufacturing industries in the Dominion. It was conceded that no exception could be taken to such a policy, although the British authorities were anxious that the pursuit of this policy in the Dominion should not result in the reduction of total trade between Britain and the Dominion, even although there might be a change in the nature of commodities exported by the United Kingdom. Mr Sullivan held further discussions on this subject with the Federation of. British Industries and many individual manufacturers and groups of manufacturers. A fair number of those with whom he held discussions signified their intention ot establishing industries in the Dominion, while others had the matter under consideration.

Regarding lack of competition in the United Kingdom, Lord Swinton said that a number of routes were to he run, some of which would not pay for some time. Unless the monopoly was put upon lucrative routes, the taxpayers would have to carry the nori-lu-crative routes, while two companies would divide the lucrative routes between them. Giving details of the civil aircraft to be used, Lord Swinton said., the production of Tudor 1 aircraft would bring in a trickle at the beginning of June this year. The Tudor 2 would begin in November this year. A flow of production ought to be obtained early next year. The V.C.L. would begin next year, and should be getting into its stride towards the middle of next year.