SYDNEY’S WARS WELCOME

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1931, Page 7

SYDNEY’S WARS WELCOME

MR. FORBES AT LUNCHEON

DOMINION COMPLIMENTED A STRONGER FRIENDSHIP NEIGHBOURLY SYMPATHY By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec, 8.15 p.m. Sydney, Jan. 15. The Right Hon. G. W. Forbes was entertained at a luncheon organised by the Millions Club of Sydney and the New Zealand Association. Sir Arthur Rickard, president of the Millions Club, presided. Others present included Archbishop Wright, Sir Janies O’Grady (retiring Governor of Tasmania), Sir Thomas Sidey, Aiderman Jackson (Lord Mayor of Sydney), Sir Henry Braddon, Sir Thomas Henley, leading representatives of official, professional and commercial circles and an enthusiastic gathering of New Zealanders resident in Sydney. Sir Arthur Rickard in proposing the toast of the guest of honour eulogised New Zealand’s patriotism and loyalty to Empire ideals, which made it one of the most important parts of the Empire and also earned for it a favourable position in the world’s financial market. He mentioned that Sydney had not heard a New Zealand Prime Minister speak for many years, but those who had visited the city were such outstanding figures as Sir George Grey, Mr. Seddon, and later Sir Joseph Ward. Mr. Lowndes, president of the New Zealand Associaiion, also emphasised that New Zealand at all tunes made help to Britain her first thought. New Zealanders often expressed thankfulness that they had not joined the Commonwealth, but it was possible that if she had the commonsense of her administrators might have assisted to keep Australia out of the difficulties ghe now found herself in. GUEST RECEIVES OVATION. Mr. Forbes received an ovation on rising to respond. He said he was glad he was able to pass this way and learn something of Australia’s problems at first hand, since New Zealand was. intimately concerned with the Commonwealth’s welfare and sympathised with her in her difficulties. Relationships had been strengthened by the ties of brotherhood formed between Australians and New Zealanders in the trying war time. Mr. Forbes mentioned the various attractions New Zealand offered to tourists and commented on the need of greater reciprocity in this respect, since while 11,000 New Zealanders visited Australia last, year only 8000 Australians went to the Dominion. ,

Referring to the Imperial Conference, Mr. Forbes said New Zealand’s sole desire was to help Britain. All the Empire delegations had worked hard to secure something in the way of reform that would benefit Imperial Trade, but the Home delegates could not be turned from their attitude on this subject. He hoped, however, that some seed had been sown, from which Empire trade would later reap an advantage. A sound basis of trade was to “buy where you sell,” and New Zealand expected the people of Britain to buy her goods. Since the principal means they had of paying was in goods it was proper that New Zealand should purchase her requirements from the Old Country. The results following this plan left little to complain about.

There were still plenty of problems to engage attention, and their settlement naturally was not always commendable to everybody. Governments could not expect bouquets for all they did. They must do what they considered right and risk the brickbats of criticism.

Mr. Forbes expressed gratitude to the people of New Zealand for the way they through their Parliamentary representatives had helped in the last session to pass legislation to deal with a serious position. They had subordinated their own domestic concerns to the necessities of the Empire and determined that their Prime Minister should attend the Imperial Conference. They adopted the attitude that their country’s reputation for loyalty /and soundness must not suffer on any account. In .England when he was speaking at a provincial centre he was given a copy of an address delivered by Viscount Lyttelton in 1859 on the ideal of those concerned in polonising Canterbury, which was to see New Zealand established ro the Britain of the South. Those ideals prevailed to-day as strongly as ever in New Zealand, which wag often described to-day by visitors as more British in characteristics than any other part of the Empire. The delegates had been treated with wonderful hospitality at Home and the people had showed much sympathy with Australia’s difficulties, which were regarded as temporary and open to solution if the right measures were taken. As a New Zealander he subscribed to this view and assured his hearers the Dominion people wished them an early return to sound and lasting prosperity. Australia must have the fullest confidence in herself to achieve this end.

Sir Thomas Sidey also spoke briefly. He drew attention to the fact that New Zealanders were dealing chiefly with Sydney through Wellington and Auckland, but the city of Dunedin was really nearer Melbourne and improved steamship connection between those ports would bring advantageous trade results, .