A GREAT IMPERIALIST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19098, 17 August 1925, Page 13

A GREAT IMPERIALIST.

VISCOUNT BURNHAM'S VISIT

LOOKING FORWARD TO STAY.

TRADE AND IMMIGRATION.

WORK OF THE PRESS UNION

In Viscount Burnham tho Empire Press r "niori has a president who is a great. Imperialist. Ho belougs to what might bo termed tho older order of British journalists. As did his father before him, ho has been able to adapt the Daily Telegraph to tho imperative demands of lan ago of intense rivalry in journalism without sacrificing anything of the proud traditions which iuado tho newspaper a t'orco in England. A brief talk with him is sufficient "to reveal the fact that a oroad Imperialism is part and parcel cf his work for tho Press Union. It is obviously his desire to wield the groat power of tho press for the good and tho strength of tho family of nations that form the Empire. In tho course of a hurried interview on tho Aorangi last evening Viscount Burnham ret erred with pride to the fact that the third conference of the union was about to bo held in Australia. At tho first, in 1909, his father hud presided. Ihe second had taken place in Canada, in 1920, tho war having caused a postponement from 1915. tie had always hoped to bo ablo to como to Australia and was particularly glad that it had been possible for tho delegates to spend a little time in Now Zealand. They would havo liked to havo been ablo to remain longer and he had asked if arrangements coidd not be mado for a longer stay, but their friends in Australia had found it impossible to do hotter than tho present tour of tho North Island. Warm Welcome in Canada. So far they had had a magnificent journoy. They had travelled by the AH Red route, receiving in Canada a warm welcome. They had been able to spend four days in tho Rocky Mountains and in Vancouver they had received a civic welcome and a public lunch had been given them by the City Council, Chamber of Commerce and the newspaper press. Canada regarded the Press Union as a great Imperial movement. The Governor of Hawaii had honoured the delegates at Honolulu and a similar courtesy had been shown them at Suva. The purpose of the organisation was to obtain tho most efficient service for the newspaper press throughout the Empire in regard to cables and wireless. Tho arrangements it had made had been of very great advantage. There were branches in every part, of the Empire. Ono representative of India was with them, Mr. Moore, editor of the Statesman, Calcutta. Another from India would join them in Australia. Malta was represented and a delegate would go to Australia from Singapore. Standard of Newspapers. "I am quite familiar with New Zealand newspapers,'' \ iscount Burnham proceeded. "New Zealand is said to be, and I expect to find it, tho most British of all the British Dominions and giving one tho most keen sensations of Home. That applies equally to tho New Zealand press. There is a marked similarity between tho Newspapers of New Zealand and tho old newspapers of Britain. Typical papers, such as the Times, Scotsman, Manchester Guardian and tho Daily Telegraph, are suggested by the make-up of New Zealand newspapers—the choice of subjects and the manner in which they are treated. I notice, also, how well blocks and illustrations are now done. Your standards and pntct'ce generally are practically identical with tho older English journalism." New Zealand had had her delegates at I the former conferences and at Home they i were aware of tho calibre of the men. Viscount Burnham had something to j say upon the subject of immigration, a j question that has received his close atJ tention for many years. He had been a member of tho immigration authority I since 1894 and had regularly attended j meetings of the Overseas Settlement Committee. The previous day, he said, tho i delegates had held a meeting to discuss the question of immigration and had been j fortunate in having Sir Thomas Mackeni zie's views and also in having with them Mr. Banks Amery who was on his way to Australia upon his immigration mission. Immigration oI Youth. "I have always believed that allowing for the limitation that must be imposed I in regard to numbers, the prospects in New Zealand in many respects aro ideal for oversea settlement. Especially am I anxious to see the immigration of boys from the public schools and secondary schools. 1 am not, of course, suggesting the immigration of a particular class, but advocate generally the immigration of youth. "ihen you have the making of character and the adaptation of the oversea conditions which are not so certain in the case of older people. Hero you have tho system of nomination. I highly approve it but hope it may be extended so that Church bodies of all denominations I may bo able to make themselves responsible for immigrants recommended by their related bodies at Home. Now Zealand was partly founded by groups of settlers organised by various churches and it would be a fino thing if that could be continued in connection with .the nomination system. It could dove-tail in ouito well I think." 1 The conference in Australia would discuss the question of the newspaper relation to oversea settlement and the delegates hoped to have addresses from people qualified to speak for both Australia and New Zealand. He was glad to see that the position of New Zealand trade was so good and the financial position was so satisfactory Naturally England wanted to keep her trade relations with the Dominions on tho best footing possible. Ho had been glad to hear that there was a promise of . improved trade in beef. Imperial Trade Policy. " I am anxious for the newspaper press at. Home," he continued, " to go in for an Imperial policy in trade to create a strong sentiment in favour of the use of Empire products. I. believe a great deal can be done. I know how a taste for bananas was cultivated in England. When I was young it was a practically unknown fruit, but slogans and publicity made it a general article of diet. " Why should tho same thing not bo done for Empire picducts generally? It ought to be possible to obtain a voluntary preference for Empire products. The newspapers aro not tho only means for carrying out propaganda to this end, but they aro the prim-inM means. I hope we shall able to adopt a policy at the conference which wiii ii.. u .iiiiuence." Viscount Burnham referred to the reduction in tho news cable rates announced beforo his departure. The rate to Australia is now a word, the reduction of Ijd being shared equally by the Commonwealth Government, the Homo Government and the Pacific Cable Board. " That, of course, does not satisfy us," lie added. "My belief is wo are going to have a great change. We have just been ablo to increase tho efficiency of the Atlantic cable eight-fold by the use of permaloid—l have no actual knowledge of its precise application—and the system is to i>e used in the Pacific Cable Board's new lines. " Then of course wo havo wireless which undoubtedly is going to effect great things. It, has not been possible to use it with this part of the world, but now tho Marconi Company is claiming that the beam system and short waves will solve difficulties. At least wo can hopo that competition between the cables and wireless will reduce rates further."