WINNING THE PEACE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 101, 30 March 1925, Page 10

WINNING THE PEACE

TASK FOR THE EMPIRE. DR EARLE PAGE’S ADVICE. LONDON, March 16. Tli© Federal Treasurer (Dr. Earle Page) arrived at Liverpool from New York at dawn. He landed in a special tender, enabling him to catch the early train to London.

He was acompanied by Sir Joseph Cook, who gave a, luncheon at Australia House in honour of the Treasurer.

Guests at the lunch included Viscount Noval (former Governor-General of Australia), Lord Glendvne (senior partner in It. Nivison and Co., stockbrokers), Sir Robert Horne (ex-chan-cellor of the Exchequer), Sir Newton Moore, M.P., the Bishop of Rockhampton and the Ageuts-General for the. States.

Dr. Page, responding to the toast of his health, made a noteworthy speech. He appealed to Britain for a closed understanding of Australia’s resources and needs, and urged that both countries should capitalise their war-time bond of mutual appreciation and evolve a system of Imperial trade and Empire Government that would satisfy everybody. A bigger population in Australia would mean greater business for Britain, which now enjoyed 6*l per cent, of Australia’s trade. ASSISTANCE REQUIRED. Every State was prospering, for there had been a wonderful season. Five thousand unemployed could find work in the country districts. It was impossible for Australia to develop by utilising only her own accumulated savings. She required outside assistance. They had repeatedly reduced taxation, but the Commonwealth and the States were following a policy of financial rectitude. There was no question of wrangling. They were always ready to repay their debts and co-ordinated borrowing was eliminating competition among themselves. Dr. Page urged that there: should be more frequent visits by British statesmen and business men to Australia. Dr. Page concluded by saying the Empire could win the peace by cooperation, instead of acting as disjointed units. Every pound invested by Britain in Australia would return a hundredfold. Ho hoped Britain would help to keep Australia, as it was now 98 per cent. British. NO MILLIONS FROM AMERICA.

Sir Joseph Cook twitted Dr. Pago with ‘‘How much money did you get in America How many millions?”

Dr. Page: “None!” Sir Joseph Cook said he was glad to be able to give Dr. Page the opportunity of meeting leading financiers. Personal visits, such as these, were vital. One hour’s conversation was better than reams of cablegrams. Viscount Novar recalled that the saddest day of his life was when ho was leaving Australia, but he had some consolation in finding so many Australians visiting Britain. He wished he had gone to Australia as a sheepfarmer instead of as Governor-General. He would not then have found the postwar conditions so difficult. Australia had changed during war-time less than any other country, and Dr. Page, who controlled the Commonwealth’s bursting coffers, must find the conditions now existing in Britain depressing. He hoped Australia would have another ten years equally as prosperous as the last ten and proceed rapidly along the illimitable path of progress by careful finance and a steady increase of population. Dr. Page, speaking to a press representative, denied that be had arranged any financial deals in America. The outstanding feature of the trip, ho said, was the manifestation everywhere of the desire by all sections of the community in Canada and the L nited States for closer relationship with Australia.

Dr. Page is leaving London to-mor-row, joining tho Moldavia at Marseilles on Friday.