OPPOSITION LEADER

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11734, 23 January 1924, Page 7

OPPOSITION LEADER

; MR WILFORD'S RETURN I '.INTERESTING INTERVIEW ON FAR-EASTERN TOUR. THE SINGAPORE BABE. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P., who arrived by the, Marania with Airs Wilford, Miss Wilford, and his sister-in-law (Miss AleLean) from Sydney yesterday, was interviewed by a “Times” representative last evening. Air Wilford stated that lie was preparing a short resume of his suggestions as to the development of New Zealand trade with some of the countries he had visited, and would be publishing it shortly. But, until the plans, offioial documents, and photographs had arrived from Singapore, he did not intend to make anyi statement with relation to the question of the proposed naval base at that port.

“We left Sydney,” added Air Wil ford, “by a Japanese steamer, tlio' Aki Alaru, manned wholly by Japanese officers and crew. On this vessel the service, the table, and the courtesy of, everyone left nothing to be desired; and we had a most enjoyable trip. On board was the Japanese delegation, returning to Japan from the PanPacific Conference, consisting of men 'of note and distinction in their country, all of them highly educated, and all speaking English perfectly. We had with us Dr. Sakarai (a member of the House of Peers, placed there for; his renown in chemistry, and now; Emeritus Professor of the University of Tokio), Dr. Yamasaki (Professor of Geology), Dr. Shinjo (Professor of Astronomy), Dr. Ogura (hydrographer of the Naval Department of Japan), Dr. Ikeno (Professor oP Botany); and Drs, Toda and Oshima (Professors of Hygiene and Zoology, respectively).

PASS TO IMPERIAL PALACES. “We were fortunate in meeting these gentlemen, for never during our; stay in Japan was their kindly forethought and assistance absent. Through them we received the Imperial pass, with the Japanese seal attached (which Air Wilford showed to our reporter), entitling us to visit theImperial Palaces at Kioto. Through them, and through the president of the Kioto University (Dr. Askari), we were personally conducted to every shrine, temple, beautiful garden, or; palace witbiu thirty miles of our hotel. At the Kioto "University, which numlrers 3000 students, we were env teriained and shown through the vsjnous departments. Girls’ schools, pufuio schools, technical colieges, the famous Sugarquin Gat'd® ll , laid out by a former Empress, were also shown us. Kioto is a city of about 750,000 inhabitants, and for a thousand years was. the capital of Japan. It was founded A.D. 794.

“From there we went to Nam, the oldest town in Japan, which was the; capital of the Japanese Empire m the, eighth centurv, and was founded 709; A.D. “MANCHESTER, OF JAPAN.” “Thence we went to the Manchester of Japan, Osaka, with a null urn and a half inhabitants (half a million more than Sydney), where we saw a wonderful industrial city, in which . everything, from a fountain-pen or a gramo-phone-record to a railway locomotive, is built. We saw beautiful Ngasaki. the coal-mines and steel-works <4 Moji, and the beautiful Sacred Miyajama Island, with its sacred deer and its wonderful shrines and temples, in the Inland Sea. We travelled 450 milts from Kobo to Shimoneseki; and we had nothing but courtesy, kindness, civility everywhere. We never wont nearer to Yokohama and Tokio, the earthquake area, than 100 miles. Though some of our fellow-passengers did get there, they left after a" few hours for reasons that may be imagined. They came back to Kobe by the same boat the same night. Japan to us was a beautiful country, a kindly people. Let me describe it in Kipling’s words : ‘The land of little _ children, where babies are. the kings.’ There seemed to be myriads of little children, dressed m the brightest colours, with cheeks like rosy russet apples. “PEARL OF THE ORIENT.”

“We called at the Philippine Islands—first at Zamboanga, which reminded us of Tahiti and part of the Cook Islands. We visited the interesting city of Alanila—“The Pearl of the Orient,” as it is called; and were entertained by a personal friend whom Wo had formerly met in the Yosemitc Valley, California. A small world, isn’t it? We visited Shanghai and Hong Kong, and realised what the trade of the East really means. Ships of every nation flying their respective flags, gathering the trade of the vast populations of the East in the neighbourhood of the Yangtse-Kiang. “LAND WITH NO INCOME TAX.”

“From Hong Kong we moved on to Singapore, the land where there is no income-tax, where, through the oourtesy of Sir Lawrence Guillemard, the Governor, we were enabled to go 200 miLe3 a crons tha Straits of Johcre, £ast the Sultan’s Palace, to Kuala umpur, the seat of the Chief Secrotary of Federated Malay States. Heie we had the unique experience of going down a tin mine. AVe also saw the rubber-trees tapped, and the turning of the ‘milk’ into the saleable product. I mode my investigations covering the question of the Singapore base with all the local officials of the Home Government and the Governor’s executive, putting in a fortnight in all on this work.

“From Singapore we went to Java, one of the Dutch Islands, where wo went inland to Britcnssorg, looking in aftc-rwardk at .Saimarang and oura• bouya. We made two visits tu Thursday Island, the centre of the pearl-fisheries of the East, and were r.ot impressed with the place at all. Wo had perfect weather and a calm sea the whole time; and had it not been for Mrs Wiliord’s illness at sea on the way back from Java to Sydney, wo all agreed that it was a wonderfully, Interesting, instructive, and enjoyable journey. “We must not forget that Japan, with Korea and Formosa added to its territory, now numbers GO million souls, China, on the most reliable sta tistics, 436 million souls, and the Dutch East Indies no Jess than 67 millions. “I intend to take a public opportunity of dealing in greater detail with tlio places I visited. I know you could not spare anything like the apace required,” said Air Wilford in conclusion.