A Hostile Send-Off.

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 100, 27 August 1930, Page 8

A Hostile Send-Off.

UNEMPLOYED MEN; ACTIVE. AT PREMIER’S DEPARTURE. (Per Press Association) AUCKLAND, Last Night. A small party of unemployed, waving a hostile banner and indulging in cat-calls; took part in the farewell to the Hon. G. W. Forbes at the wharf at 11.30 a.m. to-day, but the Prime Minister was unperturbed and he stood on the gangway with Mrs Forbes till joined by Sir Thomas and Lady Sidey. Previously Mr Forbes and his party were accorded a civic farwell at the Town Hall, Mr Forbes, in I’eply, stating that it would be his first visit to England. One subject og great importance to the conference was the matter of Empire trade. If something could be done to foster that it might go a long way to help to hold the Empire together.

A NOTE OF OPTIMISM. NEW ZEALAND’S FUTURE. AUCKLAND, Last Night. Speaking at a farewell ceremony prior to his departure for the Impelial Conference the Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, said that, in attending the conference, he knew I he went first and foremost voicing ' the very strong feeling of loyalty of I New Zealand for the Old Land. Personally he could not have any other ; sentiment towards the Old Country, s He had been brought up in that at- ’ mosphere all his life. They were our ! kith and kin in the Old Land, and he realised that New Zealanders would . stand by them through thick and ! thin. : There existed that strong senti- • ment that was better than anything i put on paper. While New Zealand felt towards the Old Land as she did there was no need of parchments. He felt that New Zealand’s representative at the conference would be in one of the strongest positions of any, bceause he would be speaking for people who were all of one mind. One matter of great importance ' that would come up at the conference would be that of Empire trade. In new Zealand we had given practical expression of our sentiment for the Old Country by giving her manufactures very substantial preference. Ours was no mete lip. service and in the Old Country that expression had been greatly appreciated. j New Zealand had every right to I feel proud of her financial position at! Home. Her reputation stood higher' than that of any of the other Domin- ; ions. The Dominion undoubtedly had i I her troubles. There had been a sub-; stantial fall in the value of her pro-; ducts, but she had experienced low- ! er prices in the past. Costs were today higher, but the whole thing was a matter of readjustment. There, were great possibilities for the increase of New Zealand products. He felt sure that in a few short years her production would be doubled, and with that prospect in front of them, there was no need for people' to feel pessimistic about the future New Zealand would soon get over her difficulties. It was a matter of readjustment, and then she could confidently face the coming years.