SIR GEORGE FENWICK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19350, 10 December 1924, Page 7

SIR GEORGE FENWICK

INTERVIEWED IN SYDNEY.

EMPIRE AFFAIRS DISCUSSED,

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, December 9.

Sir George Fenwick* in an interview, stated that the leading newspaper proprietors in Great Britain were looking forward with keen interest to the approaching meeting of the Imperial Press Conference to be held in Australia. He said, the gathering would be one of the most important of its kind yet held. The visit of the delegates to New Zealand would be entirely informal and of a social character.

Sir George Fenwick, while in London, attended a meeting of representatives of the Chambers of Commerce of the Empire. The question of preference to the dominions was discussed. He said that hardly a dissentent voice was raised against the principle. With the return to power of the Baldwin Ministry, he continued, the whole question had assumed a different form. Undoubtedly the decision of the Imperial Conference would now be given effect to, and without much delay. There was no doubt that the political future of Great Britain was in better hands, and trade would revive. The Labour Ministry had had a dampening effect on trade, but now greater confidence was expressed. There was also a keener desire to put capital into ventures which would have been shunned under the Labour rule.

“Another matter of the utmost importance to Australia and New Zealand,” concluded Sir George Fenwick, “is the Singapore base. The general feeling manifested after the victory of the Conservative Party was that the Singapore base would be established. There is little doubt in my mind that the plans will be carried into effect almost immediately.”