POLITICS IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 69

POLITICS IN AUSTRALIA.

■ MR G. W. FORBES’S IMPRESSIONS. WELLINGTON, May ±4. Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P., returned to-day from a visit to Australia, and soon will commence his part in the pre-sessional campaign. He will deliver addresses in the South Island. Mr Forbes says that • there is a feeling in Australia that the perpetuation of the three-party system is unwise, and the people were deploring the fact that the anti-Labour parties would not amalgamate. The future of politics in Australia was very uncertain. At present the Labour Party seemed to he the only one with anv unity of purpose. Mr Forbes stated while he was in New South Wales the Government there extended every courtesy to him in travelling on the railways. One thing that pleased the New- South Wales Government immensely was the hospitality which was always extended to people from New South Wales when they visited New Zealand, and they were very anxious to reciprocate when New Zealanders journeyed across the Tasman Sea. Mr Forbes visited tlie Hawkesbury Agricultural College and was present there on Diploma Day, when there was a very large gathering, including the Governor of New South Wales and Ministerial representatives from other States. “I was pleased to lea*n that there were several New Zealanders among the very fine body of students at Plawkesbury College,” said Mr Forbes, “and I was still more pleased to find that some of them had gained diplomas. I was told by one of the officials that New Zealand students were looked upon as a very fine class of young men. They go over there with the intention of getting the best thev can out of the college, not to play, and they create a very good impression.” As was the case in New Zealand, such work as was carried out at Hawkesbury was hampered bv the lack of necessary funds, added Mr Forbes.