LORD BLEDISLOE ON N.Z.

Southland Times, Issue 23408, 15 January 1938, Page 6

LORD BLEDISLOE ON N.Z.

COMPARISON MADE WITH ENGLAND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT URGED LONDON, December 15. “Although it is nearly three years ago since we left New Zealand, it remains, quite genuinely and permanently, our spiritual home,” said Lord Bledisloe, at an entertainment given to him and Lady Bledisloe by the New Zealand Group of the Overseas League. “There have been very few occasions upon which we have felt thoroughly at home since we left the Dominion. This is one of them,” he added. Lord Bledisloe said that on returning to England, a number of contrasts had presented themselves. One was the number of green weeds masquerading as grass in British pastures. Another was the number of human weeds to be found in the streets of the towns and cities. That was one of his reasons for making it his business, in a voluntary capacity to devote the greater part of his life towards doing something to make the specimen of humanity in England at least comparable with that in New Zealand.

Mentioning the scope for secondary industries in New Zealand, Lord Bledisloe recalled that the British Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, had declared recently: “I am convinced that it has become essential to develop not merely the primary industries but the secondary industries of our oversea Dominions.”

Lord Bledisloe looked forward to the time when the Dominion would not only be a farming and industrial country, but also able to defend itself against the possibilities of outside attack.