“IN AUSTRALIA.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17350, 15 May 1924, Page 12

“IN AUSTRALIA.”

MR FORBES ON HOLIDAY

POLITICIANS AND THE PRESS.

(Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, May 14 Tho Member for Hurunui, Mr G.

Forbes, returned from a month's visito Australia, and, although, a<

he remarked to a " Star ” cores[*ondent, he oid not cultivate politicians when on holiday with Mrs Forbes and their daughter, he. gained some impressions of general interest. A visit to Hawkesbury Agricultural College, when a presentation of diplomas took place, gave him an opportunity of meeting the Ministers of Agriculture of New South Wales, Squth Australia and Queensland. *1 was impressed.” he said, “‘with the fine work being done 4-t. the institution and was glad to see the names of some New Zealanders among those receiving diplomas. 'The principal spoke highly of New Zealand students, declaring they had a fine lot from the Dominion. Thev came ,with a determination to learn and they worked earnestly.”

/‘As for general politics, what struck nie most. said Mr Forbes, “was that in Australia, the Press is more, out- 1 spoken about politicians that we are accustomed, to in the New Zealand Press. The Australian papers affeet the American style of journalism and do not treat politicians with the respect. they get. j n print in New Zealand. so that T. corn© back well pleased with our papers. The railway --trike was on in NV*w Zealand, hut all the nows from this quarter we got in Australia, was only a few inches doilv and. generally speaking, tho ©able news of the world published in Australia is not. nearly so complete as in most New Zealand papers. The older established .A ustralian dailies seem to. be overcrowded and make dull reading. Most people prefer the smaller journals, which turn ent brief paragraphs with ample headings and do not try to rover the whole news situation. Public opinion is mostly formed from this snippet- class of journalism, which is not. as good as our papers, either from a literary viewpoint or interesting ©election of the world’s news.

‘‘T found a general feeling that the perpetuation of the three-pnrty system in Australia is giving too great advantage to the Labour Party. The people were deploring the fact'that the two main parties do not unite in order that a straight-out issue mnv be placed hefore the electors. The Labour Partv, however, seemed the only one with unity of purpose. The other parties do not appear to be able to come to an understanding and the future of Australian politics is mane very uncertain.

“While T was in New South WaDw commercial leaders were warning peo pie of the necessity for financial caution. They talked of ore r-specul a t ion o:ml the possibility of curtailed credit, hut there was a tremendous amount of building going on in Sydney.. One abo heard much criticism of the low labour output for high wages, hut when we looked at many fine buildings, the railway, station, .the great work of the underground rail wav station, the m jected harbour bridge, we ‘thought that somebodv must be doing a lot of good work, desnite what was said about tho men not doing a full day’s work. CITY TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. Having had experience of the comparatively minor traffic problems of New Zealand cities and tlic attempt to introduce the keep-to-the-left. rule, Mr Forbes watched this phase of Australian erfy. life with interest. Sydney. he said, is facing its difficult- traffic problems with courage, and one of its needs is widening some narrow city streets. While he was there a conference of local authorities was held io discuss the problem and develop lines for relief. They handle traffic . very well in Sydney, was Mr Forbes’s opinion. Keep-to-the-left is enforced by the police and the rule is well ofcerved, but it was chaos in Melbourne; where, despite the wider streets, it was harder to get about. ThACOMING SESSION. After returning to his home. Mr Forbes intends joining in the Liberal campaign on the platform throughout New Zealand. He will speak in a number of., southern centres. When it was suggested to Mr Forbes that tho session is likely to be lively he replied doubting the- liveliness, but declaring it would certainly be one of the most interesting of recent years. “T cannot, see how Mr Massey, with his narrow majority, has any possible chance of putting through contentious legislation,” he said. •‘There is no doubt that the question of electoral reform cannot be delayed and an interesting situation is likely to develop on this point alone.” Mr Forbes, with Mrs Forbes and daughter, left for Christchurch tonight. ____________________