COMPLACENT NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11293, 19 August 1922, Page 8

COMPLACENT NEW ZEALAND

AN AMERICAN VIEW, REPLY TO CRITICISMS. Early last month Mr W. H. Mclnomy, director of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company, returned to Honolulu after visiting Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. In the course of an interview published in the “Honolulu Advertiser” Mr Mclnerny stated that from a scientific point of view ho had enjoyed what little opportunity he had of seeing the Australian Continent and New Zealand. Everywhere he went in Fiji there was the keenest interest in the economic possibilities. In Australia and New Zealand be met only indifference. The Australians, and especially the New Zealanders, were self-con-tained and self-satisfied to an amazing degree. Everywhere he went there appeared to be great possibilities in the way of development of the naturaj resources, with nothing being done, and nobody interested in doing anything. The New Zealanders were especially complacent and easy-going. In a letter published a day or two later Mr Mclnerny is taken to task by Mr Arthur Kidman, of Sydney, representative of large meat export interests in Australia. Mr Kidman 6ays: —“I am wondering whether he (Mr Mclnerny) made a similar declaration. while actually in Australia or New Zealand, because I am of the opinion that had he done so he would have then been given sufficient informant facts that would tend to dispel these erroneous impressions he seems to have gained. . . As to his remark, ‘Australia and New Zealand’s indifference to their economic possibilities,’ if Mr Melnemy had dug deeply enough to obtain his information, he could have found that in Australia during the last few years a great number of industries have sprung up. such as woollen mills, tweed! and worsted mills, and other kindred industries. They are now manufacturing hosiery, underwear and various other kinds of articles of wear for men, wo men and children from A rstralia’r own raw material. An enormous amount of capital has come to Australia from Great Britain and elsewhere for the extension of present enterprises, and development of new industries. . . . Wonderful strides of advance ment have been made in Australia and New Zealand, so that in my opinion New Zealand and Australia will both recover more rapidly from the set-back all they received as the result of the great war than any other country. . . Australia and New Zealand have nothing to fear as to their future outlook, and will both steadfastly improve their economic conditions, notwithstanding anything Mr Mclnerny may say to the contrary.”