BRITAIN AND THE COLONIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 13

BRITAIN AND THE COLONIES.

A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS. (Fftou Ova Ottn Co»»esfokdent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, February 11

Mr Richard Tecce, general manager of the AustraJian Mutual Provident Socioty, who recently returned to Australia fiom a trip to the Old Country, is now in Christchurch, being at present engaged in inspecting the Now Zealand ofliooa of the society. Ho was interviewed by a Press representative to-day, and in reply to a question as to how these colonies, and ospeciallj New Zea!a.nd, were regarded in financial circles at Homo, he said : "Of course, New Zealand has for many years been a sort of persona grata in England. New Zealand ie very woll known there, is well advertised, and is highly thought of, although, of course, its advanced legislation is somewhat repugnant to the conservative Englishman. The eas© has boen somewhat different with Australia. There has been a good deal of confusion with regard to the attitude of Englishmen tonrard'3 Australia, As far as I could gather, tho English people- have the utmost confidence in the resources and stability of bhe Commonwealth, and it 13 the legislators that caui-o distrust. The ncopLe at Home look upon much of the Federal legislation as eyimply childish, and quite unworthy of any body of men professing to bo statesmen : but as for the resources and good faith of the States there is not the slightest doubt just now, and for the last two yoars the financal question has not entered into consideration at all, becaufcG money has been dearer in England than it has been in Australia or New Zraland, and many persons will not invest in the colonies when they can get a better investment at Home. That condition is quite an anomalous ons — that money in a young oounlrv wit.h its resources undeveloped shou'd be cheaper than in an old country like England. — but the fact is that in the Commonwealth, rightly or wrongly, there is a feelirg of unrest and uncertainty as to what the future legislation is going to be, and that feeling, no doubt, is restricting enterprise. Personally, I do not think thc^re is much real foundation for the want of confidence, because although much of the Legis'at.ion aiioears to me to be pupr'la and undesirable, the god sense of the people will <y>me out all right in the end I think the present position of affairs will continue iv Australia. Thf> seasons have been so good, and there has been such an enormous output of natural prod«ict6 of all kinds — agricultural, pastoral, and mineral — that theie will be a very large increase- in the available capital that will be seeking investment." Mr Teoce does not look forward with any coirfidsnce to the succce-s of the proferential trade proposals between England and the colonies, and doce not fee how they can l-e given practical effect to. " Thereis no doubt," he said, "that the preferential trade question was a burning one uhen I was in England two years ago, but that owf-d if-s force entirely to tho extraordinary personality of Mr Chamberlain, who is one of thn mo-t marvellous mon of tho past century He is now probably pest work, and I cannot sec on whom his mantle is to fall." Mr Teeop is of opinion that tho evil «>f fore-pn Governments ?iib>i<)i'«insr their shipping m;gh* be met by England and tl.a colon ios penalising such tubsldisad shippine. " Your F.xhibition," added Mr Teece. ' ;s; s one that the peovile of New Zealand have f very reason to "Kp satisfied with. Although it may not pay directly, it will benefit New Zealand and thp colony can afford t'io expanse. One of thp objects of your Govc-rjmont is to attract tourists, and when the tourist traffic attains large pro lvrrtioTis it 'S a very profitable one." Mr T^po hon ?vrr finds fault with th-f condt on- under which tourists have to travel in eomr p--< rta of *Vi" colour, no a.fieq-naie <■>■• reasonable provision being made for (heir comfort on some of the routes that touri-t<= arc recommended by the Tourist Department to take.