STRENUOUS TOUR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 225, 21 August 1940, Page 8

STRENUOUS TOUR

AMERICAN JOURNALISTS. RECEPTIONS IN’ AUSTRALIA. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received August 21, 9 a.m. CANBERRA, Aug. 21. The visiting American journalists yesterday morniug flew from Sydney to the Federal capital for breakfast with the Governor-Genera] (Lord Gowrie). Later they met members of the Federal Cabinet and representatives of tlie Press Gallery at morning tea, and then spent half an hour with the Leader of tfio Opposition (Mr J. Curtin). They next had an hour’s conference with the Prime Minister (Mr R. G. Menzies), who gave them a thorough conception of the Government’s view of Australia’s position in the general picture of Pacific strategy. Mr Roy Howard (principal or the Scripps-Howard Newspaper Syndicate) plied a series of questions about the post-war possibilities of wide trade agreements between the English-speak-ing nations, suggesting a Customs Union between Australia- and New Zealand as a possible starting-point. Mr Menzies'disclosed the difficulties which had prevented this action in the past, citing tlie political influence of the Australian potato-grower against importations from New Zealand of potatoes, and said it was a question of balancing Australia’s desires against practical politics, but as a result of the close war collaboration lie could foresee a possible closer customs arrangement in future. The Americans are looking and feeling a little jaded after their strenuous tour since leaving their own country, but all say they can “take it.” A Melbourne message says tbo journalists arrived by air from Can!>erra at 5 p.m. yesterday. To-day they will visit the A.I.F. camp at Puckapunyal and later will see a typical Victorian sheep station. On Thursday they will fly to Brisbane direct. When told yesterday they were to inspect a sheep station one exclaimed : “A sheep station ! All we want to sec is a sleep station 1”