A STRENUOUS TIME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22654, 20 August 1935, Page 7

A STRENUOUS TIME

TRADE PROBLEMS DISCUSSED VALUE OF CO-OPERATION THE JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS (Per United Press Association j WELLINGTON, August 19. The value of the closest possible contact between the various parts of the British Commonwealth of Nations was stressed by the Prime Minister on his arrival in Wellington by the Marama to-day from the King’s silver jubilee celebrations and the Empire Economic Conference, in which he was joined by the Minister of Finance (Mr Coates). The Pritae Minister has had a strenuous time during his absence abroad, and, apart from the jubilee celebrations, spent some time in investigating the position of New Zealand trade in the United Kingdom, and possible avenues for its further improvement and' extension.

Mr Forbes said that the homage paid to their Majesties the King and Queen during the jubilee celebrations was a wonderful illustration of the deep and abiding affection which the people have for their Sovereign. Londoners were in closer contact with the King than any other people of the Empire, and their demonstrations of fervent loyalty were spontaneous and unprecedented. They made one realise the pre-eminent and noble part which the King played in unifying the British Empire mtc the world force it was to-day. At all times during his reign the King had shown deep concern for the welfare of his people, and bis example and encouragement during the trying period of the last 25 rears were ineffaceable in the hearts of the people. Every representative of the dominions had been deeply impressed by the bond that existed between the King and his people, and it had indeed been a privilege to take part in the eelebra tions. _ During his sojourn in the United Kingdom Mr Forbes took the opportunity of visiting a number of special research stations, and gained much valuable information about problems the solutions of which our producers and industrialists are endeavouring to find. “At the British Government fuel research station I was impressed with the progress of research as applied to coal carbonisation and hydrogenation,” said the Prime Minister, “ and I have made arrangements for New Zealand to be kept fully informed as to future developments. From the information I obtained I would not say that the time was yet ripe for operations along these lines in New Zealand. In fact, there is every need for caution, M much money has been lost in these

ventures already; but the experiments which are being carried out make one realise that the future of coal Is much brighter than it was a few years ago. I have made arrangements for Mr Joiner, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, to investigate the work being carried out at the Imperial Chemical Industries great works at Billingham, and to keep in close touch with the fuel research station. This will enable us to be kept fully informed of the latest developments.” Mr Forbes also visited the experimental farm run by Imperial Chemical Industries. He was impressed by the researches being carried out in pasture preservation and the drying of grass. It was claimed that dried grass was not only the most palatable form of stored stock food, but also retained all its nutritive qualities. The latest investigations in entomology, particularly in reference to the controlling of destructive insects, also claimed the attention of the Prime Minister. He paid a profitable visit to the Cambridge University low temperature research station, where problems surrounding the carriage of frozen and chilled meat and other products were being tackled with no little success. Investigations into the maintenance of bloom on frozen and chilied meat were progressing favourably, and if they were brought to a successful conclusion the

selling value of New Zealand’s meat products would be enhanced. Research into the carriage of fruit was yielding encouraging results, and there was no doubt that the members of the staff at Cambridge were both enthusiastic and highly qualified.

A morning was also spent at the paint research station, which has been conducting experiments with kauri gum.

“ There is no. doubt that Great Britain to-day stands in the forefront of nations,” said Mr Forbes, “ She has not endeavoured to combat economic adversity with spectacular but untried experiments which too frequently bring unexpected repercussions, but has relied on traditionally sound principles. The result is that to-day she is the envy of most of the other nations of the world. She has achieved .stability while many other nations are still groping for panaceas, and she is in a position to take every advantage of the upward trend of industry and trade. We in New Zealand cannot help being gratified by the improvement in her trade and industries, as a prosperous Britain means an ample and remunerative market for our produce.”