STRENUOUS TIME

Southland Times, Issue 25367, 20 August 1935, Page 8

STRENUOUS TIME

PRIME MINISTER ACTIVITIES IN UNITED KINGDOM WELCOME HOME (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, August 19. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, accompanied by Mrs Forbes and Mr C. A. Jeffery, his private secretary, returned to-day by the Marama. They were warmly welcomed on board by Ministers of the Crown, heads of departments, and personal friends. Soon after arrival Mr Forbes and Mr Coates were tendered an official reception by the Harbour Board and the chairman, Mr T. R. Barrier, paid tribute to the work the two leaders had accomplished in London. The Hon. Sir Alfred Ransom, on behalf of the people of New Zealand welcomed the leaders and remarked that they were returning at a time when New Zealand was recovering to some extent from the difficulties of the past few years. Mr Forbes, in replying, expressed pleasure at their return and briefly outlined the Jubilee celebrations. Regarding the meat negotiations he paid a tribute to Mr Coates, saying his work had been invaluable. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates expressed satisfaction with the result of the meat negotiations and referred to the improvement jin trade which had taken place. Great Britain’s future, he said, was bright, with one possible exception, namely, the Abyssinian difficulty. It would be disastrous if the ge: «r.l improvement which was noticeable was checked by international complications. Inter-Empire Contact, The value of the closest possible contact between the various parts of the British Commonwealth of nations was stressed by the Prime Minister, in an interview. The Prime Minister has had a strenuous time during his absence abroad and apart from the Jubilee''celebrations, spent some time in investigating the position of New Zealand trade in the United Kingdom and possible avenues for further improvement and extension. Mr Forbes said that the homage paid to their Majesties the King and Queen during the Jubilee celebrations was a wonderful illustration of the deep and abiding affection which the people have for their sovereigns. Londoners were in closer contact with the King than any otherpeople of the Empire, and their demonstrations of fervent loyalty were spontaneous and unprecedented. They made one realize the pre-eminent and noble part which the King played in unifying the British Empire into the world force it was to-day. At ail times during his reign the King has shown deep concern for the welfare of his people and his example and encouragement during the trying period of the last twenty-five years were ineffaceable in the hearts of the people. Every representative of the Dominions had been deeply impressed by the bond that existed between the King and his people, and it had indeed been a privilege to take part in the celebrations. Valuable Information Secured.

During his sojourn in the United Kingdom Mr Forbes took the opportunity of visiting a number of special research stations and gained much valuable information about the problems, the solutions of which our producers and industrialists are endeavouring to find. “At the British Government fuel research station I was impressed with the progress of research as applied to coal carbonization and hydrogenation,” said the Prime Minister. “and I have made arrangements for .New Zealand to be kept fully informed as to future developments. From the information I obtained I would not say that the time was yet ripe for operations along these lines in New Zealand; in fact, there is every need for caution, as much money has been lost in these ventures already, but experiments which are being carried out make one realize that the future of coal is much brighter than it was a few years ago. I have made arrangements for Mr Joiner, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, to investigate the work being carried out at the Imperial Chemical Industries’ great works at Billingham, and to keep in close touch with the fuel research station. This will enable us to be kept fully informed of the latest developments.”

Mr Forbes also visited the experimental farm run by Imperial Chemical Industries and was impressed by the researches being carried out in pasture preservation and the drying of grass. It was claimed that dried grass was not only the most palatable form of stored stock food, but also retained all its nutritive qualities.

Frozen and Chilled Meat Carriage.

The latest investigations in entomology, particularly in reference to the controlling of destructive insects, also claimed the attention of the Prime Minister. He paid a profitable visit to the Cambridge University low temperature research station, where problems surrounding the carriage of frozen and chilled meat and other products are being tackled with no little success. Investigations into the maintenance of the bloom on frozen and chilled meat were progressing favourably, and if they were brought to a successful conclusion the selling value of New Zealand's meat products would be enhanced.

The research into the carriage of fruit was yielding encouraging results and there was no doubt that members of the staff at Cambridge were both enthusiastic and highly qualified. A morning was also spent at the paint research station which had been conducting experiments with kauri gum. There was no doubt that Great Britain to-day stands in the forefront of nations. “She has not endeavoured to combat economic adversity with spectacular but untried experiments which too frequently bring unexpected repercussions, but has relied on traditionally sound principles,” said Mr Forbes. “The result is that to-day she is the envy of most of the other nations of the world. She has achieved stability while many other nations are still groping for panaceas, and she is in the position to take every advantage of the upward trend of industry and trade. We in New Zealand cannot help being gratified by the improvement in her trade and industries as a prosperous Britain means an ample and remunerative market for our produce.” MR FORBES DISAPPOINTED SIR ALEXANDER HERDMAN’S SPEECH. FACING ECONOMIC SITUATION. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, August 19. The Rt. Hon. G_. W. Forbes to-day referred in an interview to the political situation. Referring to Sir Alexander Herdman, he said that he was very disappointed at his speech, which was not one which could be expected from a gentleman who had been for so long in a position of responsibility, for he had ignored all the difficulties through which the country had gone. Sir Alexander’s condemnation of measures which were necessary in that crisis to place the country in a sound position to meet its

obligations was surprising. “I was disappointed in the tone of his remarks,” said Mr Forbes.

Replying to a question, Mr Forbes gave an unqualified denial to a suggestion that an understanding that the exchange rate would be reduced gradually had been responsible in part for the successful result of the meat negotiations. “Practically every country has been forced to adopt some form of currency control, and admiration has been expressed in England for the manner in which New Zealand has faced her difficulties,” Mr Forbes said. The Government hoped when full information was available to do something to reduce taxation. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, also interviewed, said that the Budget proposals would be completed when he had had an opportunity of examining the financial position. He was unable to say at the moment whether it would bo possible to relieve taxpayers or restore any further Public Service cuts, although the Government was hopeful it would be possible. Shortly he would be able to announce the result of the various trade negotiations he had undertaken. TRADE ADJUSTMENTS TEMPORARY EXPEDIENTS. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, August 10. The Times, paying a tribute to Mr Forbes’s and Mr Coates’s courage in leaving New Zealand for so long with an election imminent, expresses pleasure that they are satisfied with their visit. Britain recognizes how severely New Zealand was hit by the fall in prices and the contraction of markets and is anxious to help. Exporting and importing countries should regard the proposed adjustments as temporary expedients. They must find ways of increasing the effective demand. The Times also pays a tribute to New Zealand’s recovery, adding that there is no reason why the Government should feel uneasy regarding the election.