SWEDEN AND AUSTRALASIA

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 38

SWEDEN AND AUSTRALASIA

PHOBABLE EXPANSION OF TRADE. INTERVIEWS WITH SWEDISH CONSUL. (Feok Oub Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, January 10. The probability of a great expansion or) trade between Sweden and Australasia was ■ dearly set out by Count Morner (Chiei I Consul for Sweden in Australasia and th« Islands) in the course of an interview with : a Herald, representative. Count Morner, who has been a year* in Australia, has so farvonly spent about a week in this city. He stated, that one of *-he reasons, why he was sent here was thai the tftude relations between Australasia, and Sweden ace quite astonishing — far greater in, importance than most- people suppose. Statistics did not show this, because ■ hitherto the trade had been indirect, thro-ugh. London, or Hamburg? Actual export figures were, consequently noir shown in the returns. ITor example, Sweden was buying a million, pounds' w-orthi of wool per yeax, most- of -which' came from Australia, , whereas the statistics, only* accounted for i some' thousands of pounds' worth. Now, however, Sweden had opened a direct line of steamers from Gothenburg to Sydney. Bvery* six weeks a 7300-ton steamer was ■ going from one- of the ports named to the , other. The second steamer in - the nsw , service was now expected in Sydney, By j this- line reloading would be- unnecessary, i and Swedish produce would be cheaper here i aaid Australasian produce cheaper in Sweden. Count Morner went on to say that the Swedish exports to Sydney were , so big that when the first of the steamers-Eefea-red to left 20,000 tons of freight were offered. On the return trip, however, .it was found hardly possible to get a load for tHe vessel. His object was to now work for a direafc export trade from Australia and New Zealand to Sweden, for the benefit of ail three countries. He mentioned, that by the new line a. limited, number of passengers can be taken to England, at a cost of only £20. i Count Morner takes a special interest in the Swedish' residents here. He thought they numbered in Australia and New Zealand about 10,000. Amongst these were, he said, remarkably few women — only about 2 per 1000. The' greatest percentage of all Swedish settlers in Australasia were originally 6ailors. With, -some pride the- ! Chief Consul pointed to the fact that of the few Swedish women in Australia two at least had gained prominence — namely, Mrs Molynoux Parkea (credited with being one of the best political speakers in 1 Sydney) and' Madame Agnes Janson (now a- leading- musical light in Melbourne). What gave Count M'orner particular plea--sure was. to find that his compatriots "here were well r respected and looked- upon aa desirable" settlers. The authorities were anxious to get more- of them to settle here=; "but, naturally," he remarked, "we use our. own people; we need' our 'own' people ; we- need them and do not encourage them to He was told 1 there were some Swedish settlements in New Zealand, and intended' seeking them, out. The Swedish Consul has formed " a good impression of Auckland. He expressed' astonishment at the high standard of art he- found on visits to various local studios. This, ie added, was his seventh consular post, but he had experienced the greatest pleasure* over the extreme courtesy shown. Jiim in Australia- and New- Zealand. HeKatF not, he declared, been half an hour in 1 Auckland before he got proof of thepoliteness' of the New Zealand authorities. . Count Morner in the author of several books, including novels and personal impressions of different lands. His- last prublieiation dealt with Turkey, and he is jat present ■ engaged upon a book on Australia •Slid New Zealand, whilst one of his works ie- about to. be 1 published in: serial form in an Australian weekly paper. Being a barrister Tiy profession, he also takes a keen: interest in our legislation. He remarked upon the up-to-dateness of our laws, in contrast with what he termed the antiquity of mucfr of our court procedure. According to. Count Morner, Sweden is' not at happy hunting ground for members of the legal' profession. He stated that the wnoFe of the Swedish laws are contained' in one little book, and' can be readily looked up;, wiiilst here one- -needed" a library on" legislation. The count remarked upon a divorce- case that had come under his. notice in Sydney. It lasted for many, days, and was- freely reported in. tlie press. "In Sweden," he said, "the whole- business, would have been fixed: up in a couple of hours, and there would only have been * line in the p&pers — no publication of private letters and so on. We have no. need off barristers* .iiheEe," he~ added, " and all justice is free." WELLINGTON, January- 13. Count M'orner, Chief Consul for Sweden in Australasia, who is. lisiown as a- traveller, and author; has' come here with instructions- frona Ms. Government to study our social, .political, and economic" conditions. Speaking ef colonial legislation to a Dominion, representative, Couirif Morner said it -seemed thai the trend was to. better the^ moral conditions by law. Much of the legislation, would be. stranee to the Swedish, people, with their strong respect for in-di-vidual liberty; but there, as here, what they were strwrg-linsr to attain was the simple 1 and ethical life. . But there they were doing, it hy education. They were allowing personal liberty, but educaHingagarnst social evil. "You, aTe seeking to attain the end by r<MHLsla.-iion/' said Count Morner: (r we by "education-. It is. indeed an intereating" fftudr, and the future will see the. result. As for myself, I prefer a. man who does not do wrong because he does not desire rather than a. man who- does not do it because he is pronibiied." In. regard to the development of trade between Australasia and Sweden, the Consul-general wished that New Zealand merchants might know that there has been- , started' a new line of direct ships between ' Sydney and Sweden. Plenty of cargo" has been offering" from Sweden to- Australia, ; but the eieaaners that sailed direct went i back neanly empty. "Why is that?" 1 asked Count Mbrner. "Surely you have ] products out here to send to Sweden or < Europe? I will be pleased to give infor- < mation to those who are interested in the i matter." \ This same line of steamere, he said, is j modern in every way and of large tonnage, i and is now taking passengers Home from i Sydney foj; £2Q fast class. , ]

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