NEVER SOUNDER AT HEART

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1930, Page 11

NEVER SOUNDER AT HEART

■' ’■l.'-' ’ ■ : ; ■" ' . RELATIONSHIPS OF EMPIRE

NEW ZEALANDER’S IMPRESSIONS.

DIFFICULTIES OF AUSTRALIA.

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

Sydney, Dec. 4. Mr. R. J. Gilmour (Invercargill), chairman of the New Zealand delegation to. the Imperial Press conference, diccuesing points of interest noticed during his visit to England, said the unfortunate feature of the news sent to England was that portions concerning the activities of extreme elements in the Australian Governments hostile critics of the Commonwealth material of which they made the utmost use.

Since Australia and New Zealand, were so close together, and the Dominion’s fortunes were bound up with those of the Commonwealth, New Zealanders in London were naturally interested in what was being said of Australia. • The latter’s critics in Britairt, both in the Press and among public men, were many, and some were severe, but in both the Press and the public were a great many who knew Australia well, understood its conditions, and appreciated its possibilities. Mr. Scullin’s utterances' were calculated to assist Australia in the present crisis and had given much satisfaction to the Commonwealth's friends.

' There was no inclination to under-estimate the difficulties which had to be'overcome. It was' realised that there :was no ground, to expect that prosperity would be regained quickly, but there was, however, a feeling that, given firmness and Yanity-in the Australian Governments, with energy and economy Australian people, the balance wtmld soon be turned in Australia’s ■favour. The latest statistics-showing a surplus of exports over imports were gratifying.

New Zealand had' its own troubles, though none was so bad as Australia’s, and as the latter’s recovery would be of the greatest assistance to the Dominion, New Zealanders naturally hoped for the best for their sister Commonwealth, Mr, Gilmour added: “I have heard more pessimism expressed regarding the Australian outlook by Australians themselves than during all the months I was in Britain.. A change in Australians’ own attitude would help the country.” Mr. Gilmour said he had found Australia ahead of New Zealand in advertising its products. , Referring to his visit to a number of. European countries he said he had been struck by the fact that the people of France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Germany, Czecho-Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland and Italy were working hard. The land workers, both men and women, were in the fields until late at night, and the soil was'made to yield its utmost. The business men complained that the conditions were not good, but the cities appeared to the traveller to be prosperous, though there was depression throughout the world; and complexity and bewilderment prevailed everywhere. There were also signs of energy and virility. Happily this applied to Britain' equally with the other countries.-

Tie was returning to New Zealand convinced that the Empire was never, stronger nor sounder at heart and that it would rise triumphantly above all difficulties provided peace was maintained. Unfortunately there was too freqdent talk of war. ' The' great majority- of the nations’ public mep realised that this would be a crowning disaster if it came upon the world in its present condition.