COMPLACENT NEW ZEALAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10361, 5 September 1922, Page 1

COMPLACENT NEW ZEALAND.

AN AMERICAN VIEW

REPLY TO CRITICISMS

Early last month, Mr W. H. Mclnerny, director of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company, returned to Honolulu after visiting Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.

In the course of an interview published in the "Honolulu Advertiser," Mr MMnerney stated that from a scientific point of view he had enjoyed what little opportunity he had of seeing the Australian Continent and New Zealand. Everywhere he went in Fiji there was the keenest interest in the economic possibilities. In Australia and New Zealand he met only indifference. The Australians, and especially the New Zealanders, were self-contained and felt-satisfied to an amazing degree. Everywhere he went there appeared to he great possibilities in the way (if development of the natural resources, with nothing being done, andinobody interested in doing anything. The New Zealanders were especially complacent and easy-

going. In a letter published a day or two . later Mr Mclnerny is taken to task j by Mr Arthur Kidman', of Sydney,

representative of large meat export interests in Australia. Mr Kidman says:—"l am wondering whether he (Mr Mclnerny) made a similar declaration while actually in Australia or New Zealand, because I am of opinion that had he done so he would have the been given sufficient informant facts that would tend to dispel these erroneous impressions he seems to have gained. ... As to his remark, "Australia and New Zealand's indifference to their economic possibilities," if Mr Mclnerny had dug deeply enough to obtain his information, he could have found that in Austalia duing the last few years a great number of industries have sprung up, such as woollen mills, tweed and worsted mills and other kindred industries. They are now manufacturing hosiery, underwear and various other kinds of articles of wear for men, women, and children from Australia's own raw material. An enormous amount of capital has come to Australia from Great Britain and elsewhere for the extension of present enterprises, and development of new industries. : . . Wonderful strides of advancement have been made in Australia and New Zealand, so that in my opinion New Zealand and Australia will both recover more rapidly from the setback they all received as the- result of the Great War than any other country Australia and New

Zealand have nothing to fear as to their future outlook, and will both steadfastly improve their economic conditions, notwithstanding anything Mr Mclnerny may say to the contrary."