FEDERAL MINISTERS

Southland Times, Issue 14633, 25 January 1911, Page 5

FEDERAL MINISTERS

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW OX VARIOUS SUBJECTS. (Special to “Times.”) DUNEDIN, January 24. The Hon. W. M. Hughes (Attorney-Gen-eral) and Mr E. L. Batchelor (Minister of the Interior) of the Australian Commonwealth Government arrived In Dunedin this evening from the south after an extended and enjoyable tour through fiordland and the cold lakes district. Interviewed by a "Dally Times” reporter this evening they made a few observations on the trip and a few remarks on political matters. Mr Hughes was frankly enthusiastic about his experiences in fiordland and the lakes district, and he and Mr Batchelor agreed that the views obtained there came as a revelation to all hitherto unfamiliar with them. They would never cease to sing the praises of the majestic scenery of New Zealand in its southern part. They had made a welcome pleasure ground for enervated Australians. The route followed by them was from Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau per the Greenstone track over Burley Pass, which was a little used and very rough route. From Te Anau track they followed to Milford. where the party was detained a couple of days by heavy rains. This had its compensations, however, as all streams and waterfalls were seen at their very best. Asked whether they would make any suggestions whereby the comfort of tourists could be better attained, Mr Hughes replied that a suggestion he would like to make would be that on the Greenstone track arrangements should bo made for granting facilities for fishing in the Greenstone river and boating and fishing on Lake Howden. A boat was required at this place, as, though a net was there it was too cold for a net to be drawn while standing In the water. The real drawback, however, to the Burley Pass route lay in the fact that tourists were hurried too fast over it. More leisure should be allowed for fishing. Another thing was the switchback nature of the path which was up and down all the way without gaining any great altitude. A few hundred pounds might well be expended in smoothing out some of the kinks and allowing tourists a more comfortable path. So far as their treatment was concerned, both visitors express very great appreciation of the behaviour and courtesy of the Dominion Government in providing facilities for them at every turn. The tracks were well equipped and the district as a whole was undoubtedly’ an ideal playground. Messrs Hughes and Batchelor concluded by saying that the statement attributed to them of having commented on the toss of the Moeraki on the voyage across from Melbourne being such that they could not keep in their bunks was incorrect. She was one of the best boats they had travelled in. Referring to the new Vancouver mail contract. Mr Batchelor briefly expressed the Commonwealth view. New Zealand, he said, had already a preferential tariff agreement with Canada, and If Australia had agreed to boats calling at Auckland either Melbourne or Brisbane would have had to be sacrificed, while New Zealand secured her goods on a much more favourable footing than Australia. Broaching the subject of a trade agreement between Canada and Australia in the near future, Mr Batchelor stated that Mr Fisher (Prime Minister) intended taking advantage of the forthcoming Imperial Conference to see Canadian representatives and endeavour to effect such arrangement. Quite possibly a mail subsidy would be settled before then. On another question, Mr Batchelor stated that he could not see why there should be any conflict of opinion befween Australia and New Zealand over the proposed removal of the Commlsslonership of the Western Pacific from Suva to Sydney, as their interests were all Australian.

Mr Hughes was quite unconcerned over the note of alarm sounded by a member of the recent Science Congress over the Federal note issue, and expressed the opinion that the Act was all right. There was absolutely nothing in the Commonwealth statute to warrant the remarks made. There was nothing about the Government’s note issue that was revolutionary or calculated to disturb the financial equilibrium of the country. He was certain that no government would venture to repeal the Act. A week ago a cable stated that a solicitor had issued a writ against the Federal Government asking for a declaration that the land tax was invalid; but the Australian visitors have no particulars of this matter. Mr Hughes, however, placidly remarked that the challenging of the validity of the Act had not disturbed, nor was it likely to disturb his Government.