FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA

Hawera Star, Volume L, 4 December 1930, Page 9

FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA

NEW ZEALANDER’S OPTIMISM EFFECTS OF WORLD DEPRESSION “BALANCE WILL SOON TURN.” (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) Received 1.45 p.m. to-dav. SYDNEY, Dec. 4. Mr. R. J. Gilmour, of Invercargill, chairman of the New Zealand delegation to the Imperial Press conference, discussing points of interest noticed during the visit to England, said: “The unfortunate feature of the news sent, to England is that portions concerning the activities of the extreme elements in the Australian Governments give hostile critics of the Commonwealth material of which they make the utmost use. “Since Australia and New Zealand are so close together and tlie Dominion’s fortunes are bound up with the Commonwealth, New Zealanders in London are naturally interested in what is being said of Australia. The latter’s critics at Home, both in the Press and among public men, arc many and some are severe, but in both the Press and the public there are many who know Australia well, understand its conditions and appreciate its possibilities. “Mr. Scullin’s utterances are calculated to assist Australia in its present crisis and have given much satisfaction to the Commonwealth’s friends. | There is no inclination to ' underestimate the difficulties which have to be overcome and it is realised that there is no ground to expect- that prosperity can be regained quickly. There is, however, a feeling that given firmness and sanity in the Australian Governments, with energy and economy among the Australian people, the balance will soon be turned in Australia’s favour.”

The latest statistics showing a surplus of exports over imports were gratifying, Mr. Gilmour continued. New Zealand had its own troubles, though not so bad as Australia’s, and as the latter’s recovery would be of the greatest assistance to the Dominion New Zealanders naturally hoped for the best for their sister Commonwealth.

“Since arriving in Australia,” said Mr. Gilmour, “I have heard more pessimism expressed regarding the Australian outlook by the Australians themselves than during all the months I was at Homo. A change in the Australian’s own attitude would help the country.” Mr. Gilmour added that lie had found Australia ahead of New Zealand in advertising its products. Referring to his visit to a number of European countries he said that he had been struck by the fact that the people of France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Germany, Czeeho-Slovnkia, Austria, Swithzerland and Italy were working hard. Land workers, both men and women, were in the fields until late at night and made the soil yield its utmost. Business men complained that conditions were not good, but the cities appeared to travellers to be prosperous. Though the depression was throughout the world and a complexity of bewilderment prevailed everywhere, there were also signs of energy and virility. Happily this applied to Britain equally with other countries.

He is returning to New Zealand convinced that the Empire was never stronger nor sounder at heart and would rise triumphantly above all difficulties, provided that peace was maintained. Unfortunately there was too frequently talk of war, but the great majority of the nation’s public men realised that this would be a crowning disaster if it came upon the world in its present condition.