RETURN FROM HOLIDAY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 13 August 1929, Page 5

RETURN FROM HOLIDAY.

HON. T. R BAVIN. AUSTRALIAN FINANCE DISCUSSED. (By ToUgraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 12. The Hon. T. R. Bavin, Premier of New South AY 7 ales, is a through passenger on the Makura to Sydney. He is returning from a trip to England undertaken primarily for health reasons. • “I met the political leaders when they were very much immersed in locaL affairs, the general election having only recently taken place and the Ramsay MacDonald Government being in the process of assuming office.” Mr Ravin said.

“Because of that I had little opportunity of discussing with , the new Alinisteis such matters as Imperial preferences. All I can say under that head is that unquestionably it will be disastrous if preferential duties are abolished That opinion is held not only by one party in Great Britain, but- so far as I could judge by all parties, in the Dominion and colonies I visited. I found Canada and Fiji intensely interested in the question.” The raising of Australian loans on the London market was one of the subjects- to which Mr Bavin said he had paid special attention.

“When discussing Commonwealth and State finances and industrial conditions with financiers I was rather disappointed to find that- most of the new arrangements which have been made under the Commonwealth Loan Council agreement have not- been fully appreciated in London.” he said. “We have done by that agreement exactly what our financial advisers have urged us for many years to do. but that fact does not seem to be fully understood. T am satisfied, however. that- when the significance of the agreement is fully realised in London it will result in a substantial improvement.”

A question awaiting his return was the ' oa.l trouble in New South Wales. “As I have been away I am unable to sav anvthing concerning the disoute, but I regret extremely that up to the present no means have been found for securin'? a resumption of work on the fields,” lip said. “I know niv colleagues have done everything toward that end rvossible.”