HOMEWARD BOUND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19762, 13 April 1926, Page 7

HOMEWARD BOUND.

DEPARTURE OF HON. W. PEMBER REEVES. PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALAND A LAND OF PROMISE. (From Otn Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, April 12. “ You have received me as a returned exile and have made me happy. 1 have been in New Zealand five months, but the only unhappy day will be the day of my departure,” said the Hon. W. Pomber Reeves to an interviewer yesterday. Mr Reeves has revisited his native land and the scene of his political labours after an absence of 30 years, and will leave for London by to-morrow’s man steamer. Air Reeves departs with the happiest memories of New Zealand revisited. “ This is a truly beautiful country. I say it advisedly, and not because I was born here, and wish to be complimentary. I have seen 20 countries seme of them very lovely, but there is not one in which life is more pleasant or the people more .jiappy. It has been my business here to look below the surface and find out whether anything is wrong. Visitors are generally expected to praise extravagantly or to blame iu the same degree. I see no reason do either, but I can honestly say that New Zealand is inhabited by a very fine race of people, healthy and intelligent, and far above the average of the world.” As a carollorar.v, Mr Reeves feels that immigrants to the Dominion should he chosen with care, and that only the best should be admitted. He recognises that the country cannot absorb more than a limited number of new people each year. Those who find a place in the life of New Zealand should count themselves fortunate indeed, so that there is every reason for accepting only those who are worthy. Mr Reeves says he leaves New Zealand confident in its future. One heard a good deal about trade rivals, such as the Argentine, 40 years ago. People had been saying that the Argentine would drive New Zealand out of business, but nothing has happened. So long as the Dominion sent away only the best she need not fear for her markets. Politically the country might expect a quiet time for a few years. A stable Government was in office under the Prime Minister, who enjoyed general popularity and coqld be trusted administer its affairs wisely. In his opinion there was no need for political commotion and New Zealand wpuld benefit by a period of progress along the lines already laid down. With improvement in administration in one or two Government departments he saw no cause for panic over the present adverse balance of trade. In this, as in other matters, the watchword should be prudence. If imports wete reduced by, say 10 per cent., the condition would be overcome. Similarly he would say that the Government and the local bodies should stop borrowing. That would be impossible and unnecessary. Thev should simply borrow rather less. So far as farming was concerned, he looked forward with confidence. Many farmers were in trouble but at least 60 per Cent, of them were doing very well indeed. There were probably not more than 10 or 12 per cent, simply working for their mortgages, and in due time the embarrassed settler would cease 1° ™ a. factor in the country’s life. There wquld be a steady sub-division of good land into rally workable holdings. The standard or farming would he raised and production would probably be' doubled. Concurrently there would be more employment upon farm- and greater contentment among the peonle on the land. Mr Reeves will be very busy for a month or so after his return to England, and then ho proposes to rest. He looks forward to revisiting New Zealand again about two years hence.