EXPERIMENTAL LEGISLATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23045, 23 November 1936, Page 7

EXPERIMENTAL LEGISLATION

NEW ZEALAND'S LEAD CANADIAN POLITICIAN'S IMPRESSIONS An interested visitor to the Dominion at present is Dr D. M. Sutherland, a former Minister for Defence and Pensions in the Bennett Government in Canada. Dr Sutherland, who arrived in Dunedin on Saturday, is spending six weeks in New Zealand, approximately a month of which will be passed in the South Island. He will leave to-morrow for Milford Sound. Dr Sutherland is taking a keen interest in New Zealand life and affairs in general, and, in the course of a conversation with an Otago Daily Time: representative last night, stated that he was enjoying every minute of his stay. Having taken a prominent part in the affairs of the sister Dominion, Dr Sutherland has naturally kept in touch with the political situation in New Zealand, and especially in the intensive period of experimental legislation which has followed the election of the Labour Government. In this respect, he thought, New Zealand was giving the world a lead. The Government of which he had been a member had undertaken social reforming, including the establishment of a 44-hour week, but it had been defeated before it could proceed far with its programme. Probably, America would soon be the leader in putting forth new social legislation, as the Roosevelt Administration had been concentrating along these lines, and the nation-wide exprei jn of confidence given at the recent elections would no doubt encourage it to undertake more sweeping measures. In Canada keen interest was taken in New Zealand dairying, for this rountry was her rival for the Home markets in butter and cheese. The marketing of New Zealand butter in Canada had brought the problem right home, and it had been met by the imposition of high tariffs, since otherwise the local product would have been undersold. New Zealand had natural advantages which made cheap production possible, for in Canada the climatic conditions during the winter made it necessary for the cattle to be housed in large and expensive barns for several months. Climate also favoured this country in wool production, the wool from Australia and New Zealand being preferred in Canada to the local product. From the point of view of an ordinary sightseer, Dr Sutherland was thoroughly satisfied. There was a pleasant variety of landscape, he said, and the mountain and lake scenery was magnificent. He had been particularly impressed with the West Coast glaciers and was looking forward to the Milford Sound walk. Even the train journey from Christchurch to Dunedin had been interesting and enjoyable with the change of scene from plains to rolling hills and finally to seascapes. To the traveller, New Zealand was an ideal country since everything was so accessible. In Canada there were some famous resorts in the Rockies but, to the great majority of the people, these places were so far away as to be beyond their means. Furthermore, the New Zealand Government Tourist Bureau was a highly efficient one. His itinerary had been prepared with a thoroughness which was admirable. Every detail was attended to. The overseas propaganda was also extensive. Before coming to this country he had seen many brochures, all of which were most attractive in their appearance and in the matter offered.

Referring to the Douglas Credit experiment, Dr Sutherland said that Alberta was the centre of interest in Canada, but he thought it would be almost impossible to carry out the proposals. The big difficulty was the use of scrip money which was not legal tender outside the province. Alberta was not a manufacturing area and all its requirements in this direction had to come from outside. Naturally the exporters would not accept scrip money, consequently the importers would not accept it from the retailers, who in turn were very loath to accept it from the customer. The Premier, Mr Aberhart, had had a remarkable career. He was a former principal of a high school who, keenly interested in religion, had started Bible class work. His popularity in this field had increased until his services were broadcast. The theories of Major Douglas had attracted him, and he had begun to refer to these proposals in his religious work. When the first proposals were made that he should actively enter politics, Mr Aberhart was disinclined to accept but, almost in spite of him, a party had formed round him and he had eventually come to the Premiership. The present situation was one of vital interest, for the western States of Canada were not in good financial conditions and were already being substantially backed by the Government, and any defaults in Alberta would be serious.