BRITAIN AND THE CONTINENT

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 66

BRITAIN AND THE CONTINENT

MR H. L. TAPLEY’S IMPRESSIONS NEW ZEALAND PRE-EMINENT. Despite the splendour of the Old World cities, their bustling activities, and, in many cases, their magnificent scenery, Mr 11. L. Tapley, in an interview with our representative, stated that he had always a longing to get back to New Zealand, which could justly be termed, in comparison with other lands, ” God’s Own Country.” During his travels Mr Tapley visited Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States of • ni i? rlca ’ people whom he had met ’b England all had a good impression of the climate of New Zealand and its living conditions,. many hoping for an opportunity to visit the country and others desiring to settle here. The immigration question was one that was being thoroughly investigated by the British Government and by’ the dominions, and in ~e a? ' Britain there would be many appliations from prospective immigrants for New Zealand immediately the New Zealand Government rseumed its immigration policy. In Mr Tapley’s opinion, however, whilst he anticipated that the system .of immigration would be carefully cairied out, only those who were prepared to go on the land should be encouraged to come to this country. This would be tair not only to the immigrants themselves but to our own workers in the cities many of whom were out of work New Zealand was not alone in the respect of unemployment, for in all the countries lie had visited there was a wave of unemployment. In fact, the figures were small here in comparison with other countries. England at present had 1,250,000 people out of work, and this state of affairs was caused .by the acute depression in the coal mining, steel, and cotton industries, .the depression had been caused by the competition of foreign countries, where lower wages were paid to the employees and longer hours were worked. Some adjustment would have to be made if Great Britain were to regain its industrial supremacy. as noticeable that the workers in Great Britain were alive to the existing state of affairs by their mutual agreement with the railways which were con tending with the keen competition of motor transport, which it was estimated took 2o per cent.'of the revenue. Mr J. H. Ihomas, M.P., secretary of the ion nAn J ' raen,S i Union (of which there were 500,000 members), was instrumental in summoning a round-table conference between the railway companies and railwaymen, .with the result that an arrange ment was made with the employees, from the highest to the lowest, to accept a reduction m their wages of 2 J per cent, and to work longer hours. This effected a saving of £3,000,000 per annum to the railway companies, and should assist them to bring their work and services to a very much higher standard of perfection.

The example of Mr Thomas as a Labour leader, said Mr Tapley, Could be followed in New Zealand with great advantage in regard to our secondary industries and to the workers themselves. It was necessary for the employer and the employee to get together and put all their cards on the table. If this were done, he telt sure that our secondary industries, which were languishing, would be stimulated and would create additional employment with its attendant increased prosperity to'the Dominion. In California there was no Arbitration Court, but a commercial committee comprising representatives of both employers and employees had been established, and this was presided over by the Archbishop of ban Francisco. The committee adjusted wages, conditions, and hours in a way that proved acceptable to both sides. Evidence of the satisfactory condition of affairs existing between employer and employee, in that State could be gained from the fact that there had not been any trade upheavals for a long time past Uf course the employees still had their unions which carried out their own intenor functions. Switzerland reminded Mr Tapley a good deal of New Zealand owing to the similarity of formation of its hills mountains, lakes, and valleys, and Lake’ Geneva was reminiscent of Lake Wakatipu.

Whilst in England he had had the opportunity of meeting many members of the House of Commons, as well as the Prime Minister, Mr Stanley Baldwin, and Mr Tapley stated that the views he exchanged with these men and the knowledge he had derived from such conversations would be made use of from time to time in his capacity as a member of Parliament. He was privileged to be

invited by the British Empire Parliamentary Association to act as a Dominion member of Parliament with the members of the British House of Commons at the International Conference at Versailles, Cl ‘ <-"7o S ->^ tcnde<l b -v the representa-ro-rJ *r d,^ ere . nt countries, and various resolutions affecting the mutual interests or the countries were discussed ai.d dealt willi. In addition to the business and fvE!i°n ,1C a ? p .~ cts of conference the iueridlv spirit created between all the delegates was in itself a factor of „reat niternationall value. At Versailles, "also, at th al p e ’ V | h a< i v U l , e Pteasure of lunching of tl>» r d a L S rP Eb’see with the President of the French Republic (M Doumergue) After discussing matters with Continental representatives he felt convinced that trade in frozen meat, butter, cheese, and apples could be developed to a much greater extent between New Zealand and nX tn H n r eountrles - What he would urge the Government to do in order to promote this trade would be to appoint thoroughly experienced men as trade commissioners in the centres of the selected countries. lhere was no doubt that the prejudices connected with our frozen meat trade could be overcome on the Continent as they had been in England. It was useless and a waste of time to send inexperienced men in these capacities, for ‘it required men of wide commercial experience and possessed of extensive knowledge of trade to secure the best results Other countries, including Canada and England, were sending trade representatives to various countries, and New Zealand should do the same. Our frozen meat in England had gained a very high reputation, and this was due largely to the excellent propaganda issued by Mr Robert Forsyth (general manager of the New Zealand Meat Board) There were great possibilities ot trade with America through this medium. On all sides he had heard golden opinions regarding the quality of New Zealand apples—not only throughout England, but also in Scotland. Mr Stevens, who had recently been sent to London to watch the interests of the applegrowers, was accomplishing good work, and he was highly thought of by the trade community. Mr Tapley was satistiea that the Dominion’s export trade m apples was going to be a very valuable one in tne future.

On every hand in England, said Mr lapley, nothing but kindness and courtesy had been shown to him. and through the agency of the British Empire Parliamen-tary-Association, which had at its head " r E-°ward D Egville, Dominion members ot Parliament received invitations to anv ceremonies and_ functions that interested them. One or the most interestin'- of these that he had attended was a visit in company with some of the members of the House of Commons to inspect the fleet at Portsmouth. They were then the guests of the Admiralty and were shown over some of the latest battleS ?l pS ’j n ir- , been privileged to attend the King s’brrthday levee, and had met many distinguished men and women who took a deep and sympathetic interest in the British dominions. After such kind treatment in each country Mr Taplev said that he was sorry to have to leave but he was naturally pleased to be back again in his home city.

When he left New Zealand Mr Taplev’s health was not at all satisfactory, but the treatment that he received in London a,ld tne trip generally, have fully restored his health.