MINISTER OF LANDS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4800, 21 June 1939, Page 2

MINISTER OF LANDS

ARRIVAL IN LONDON.

A PRESS INTERVIEW

London, May 25.

After a month in America, Mr. F. Langstone, Minister of Lands, accompanied by Mrs. Langstone, has arrived in London on his way to represent New Zealand at the International Labour Conference at Geneva.

Under the auspices of the United States Forestry Department and the Forestry Department of British Columbia, Mr. Langstone learned what is being done in those countries to combat the danger of forest fires and to maintain forests in perpetuity. He also gained an insight into forest

management,

On his return to England from Switzerland, Mr. Langstone hopes to have an opportunity of seeing what is being done in Britain’s iron and steel factories, and he also hopes to gain an insight into other industries. In a Press interview, given to the representatives of several newspapers at New Zealand House, Mr. Langstone said that New Zealand had always met her obligations and she always would. Import control was not designed to restrict trade, for the Dominion desired an expansion. Her first duty was to pay her debts, and the second to provide payment of essential products. The effect of the restrictions upon revenue he estimated to be “very considerable,” but he pointed out that there would be increases of revenue from other sources, chiefly

from the greater volume of internal business.

Discussing the guaranteed price for dairy produce, Mr. Langstone emphasised that it had been necessary to help the farmers who had been too heavily mortgaged. “We think we have now fixed the farmers,” he said.

He pointed out, however, that the sheep farmers were worse off than the dairy farmers who were in a “very excellent position indeed” — as a result of the fall in the price of wool. “There is a possibility,” he said, “that the sheep farmers may ask the Government to give them a guaranteed price.” Asked whether he had any plans to combat the “very adverse criticisms” made in England concerning the policy of the New Zealand Government, to which “very little reply”

had been made so far, Mr. Langstone said that he was under the impression that statements had been made In any event his position as Minister of Publicity was mainly concerned with tourist attractions. He did not undertake propaganda on the lines of Mr. Goebbels.

Mr. Langstone is accompanied by Mr. G. M. Jackson, of the Labour Department, who will also attend the International Conference.