“COMMON DESTINY”

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 5 January 1935, Page 7

“COMMON DESTINY”

IA DOMINION AND AUSTRALIA f VISITING POLITICIAN’S VIEWS AAITCABLE TRADE RELATIONS. ;1 The need for more amicable trade u relations between Australia aiid Now v Zealand was. stressed by Mr M. F. Bruxner, deputy-Pyemicr of N<W e South who arrived in Auckn land from the South at the conclusion e of a holiday tour of the Dominion'. Asked to comment on trade between e the two countries, in the light of the ! breakdown in tlie recent parleys be- . tween New Zealand and Australian j Alinisters, Mr Bruxner .said such matters came under the control of the ' Federal‘Government and were not the ’J direct concern of State Parliaments. However, one impression of his visit • was that there ' should be the most . friendly relations, between the Do- , minion and the Commonwealth, without any need for formalities. Both countries had mutual interests; both 1 were battling against very similar problems. i “I can assure you that Australians entertain a most kindly feeling toward New Zealand,” Air Bruxner said. ‘‘Aly home is about - .500 mile 4 from Sydney, but as a matter of fact in Auckland I am actually nearer ihome than I would be in Perth or Northern Queensland. Our- very nearness should persuade us that we must progress 'in many respects toward a common destiny. AIERITS OF DECENTRALISATION. ‘‘One of the charms of New Zealand is that you have so many large worth-while centres. In New South. Wales, there is Sydney, with a population approximately equal to' that- of the whole of New Zealand; then Newcastle, with its 60,000 inhabitants; and finally smaller towns with populations ranging from about 17,000 to •5000. Here you appear to have a far more healthy spirit of decentralisation.” Air Bruxner said be had not gone as far south as Dunedin, but he had been very favourably impressed by Christchurch! Auckland appealed to him as a most progressive city, beautifully situated, * and be ha.d been struck by the fine civic spirit of many ;of the provincial centres. ‘‘The whole of -your country presents the appearance of being amazingly fertile,” he continued. “I have been impressed throughout my tour by the healthy condition of your sheep and cattle. In A us t ra ka we graze [ more on natural grasses than you do and hardly need to farm so intensively. Howqver, top-dressing and other developments are being forced on us, with prospects of enormously increased production. In consequence, our dairy farmers, like yours, are appre- , liensive concerning the outlook for the British market.'” AFFORESTATION SCHEAIES. Another matter which interested Air Bruxner was the development of afforestation schemes in the Dominion. It appeared to him that, as in Australia, the tops of the hills in some districts had been cleared too much, but the success of afforestation work on waste land in tlie vicinity- of Rotorua showed that an eye \yas being kept oh the future. In Australia the waste land would not grow timber and/ in consequence, afforestation \'schemes, when they were put into - operation, had generally to oust some other form of production. All’ Bruxner was favourably impressed by both roads and railways in New Zealand. He also praised the work of officials of the Government i Tourist Department and the service and comforts of the hotels. “Then there is the hospitality of your people,” lie added! “It is" marvellous. New Zealanders certainly know how to make an Australian feel at home. The spirit of your people matches the beauty of your'country.” Air Bruxner is Leader of the Country Party in New South Wales and, in addition to being deputy-Premier, he bolds office as Alinister of Transport.

During the wa Air Bruxner, who held the rank ol" lieutenant-colonel, served with tlie Anzac Alounted Division and for the last two years was on the staff of Alajor-General Sir Edward Cliaytor. As a result of his visit he has met many old War comrades.