AFFAIRS IN AMERICA.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16652, 18 November 1925, Page 8

AFFAIRS IN AMERICA.

MR D. F. WILBUR’S VIEWS. IMPORTANT POINTS TOUCHED. “If you arc saying anything about my opinion of the people of New Zealand, you may go the limit. They are the best people I have met in any part of the world.” This was the parting advice given to a representative of the Christchurch Press recently by Mr D, F. Wilbur, formerly Consul-General for the United States in New Zealand. Mr Wilbur, who is in Hamilton to-day, retired in May, 1923, and returned to Onconla, New* York State. A friend who chanced upon a publication by the New Zealand Government suggested a holiday trip to this Dominion, and Mr Wilbur acquiescing, they arrived in Wellington by the Tahiti a fortnight ago. Mr Wilbur is president of the llol-stein-Friesian Breeders' Association of U.S.A., and holds a similar position also on the Cheviot Sheep Association, and has shown stock ail over the United Slates. lie is naturally very' interested in the Canterbury A. and P. Association’s Royal Show. Agricultural Shows, he stated, are a great feature of American life. They may really be divided into three classes —the town, country, a.nd State shows. Steady progress is being made in the application of scientific knowledge to agricultural farming, and cultvation is becoming more intense. A Market for New Zealand.

In spite of these developments, which should result in an increase in the primary products of the United States. Mr Wilbur considers that New’ Zealand should make greater endeavours to open up markets there, especially for frozen meat and dairy produce. “Denmark and the Argentine long ago learned not to put all their eggs In one basket,” he said; “both countries are working everything that can be worked in their favour in the United States.” Immigration Policy Defended. The immigration laws of the United States have a staunch defender in Mr Wilbur, who described the type of emigrant the countries of Southern Europe arc anxious to ship to America. “If wc could get Anglo-Saxon countries like New’ Zealand to send their full quota,” said Mr Wilbur, "we should be perfectly satisfied with the class of citizen we were adding to our nation.” “Do you think the Democrats will ever regain their former power?” he was asked. “Not unless they change their tactics and policy,” he replied. “At present they are opportunistic, and are reactionary in one part of the country, while ultra radical in another. The Republicans arc the solid, substantial party, like the party w’hich is led by Mr Coates in New’ Zealand.” Mr Wilbur said that Tammany Hall still wielded great power in State and local body politics. A remarkable feature was that most of the English immigrants adopted Democratic politics, and the Republican Irish supported the same party. League of Nations. No ground was being made by the League of Nations, and no party would advocate that America should join it. Americans, rightly or wrongly, were or the opinion that it was useless to join the League until the nations composing it demonstrated the same willingness to honour their pledges as Great Britain. There was not the sligiitest cause for apprehension in the differences between the United States and Japan. The former was too good a customer of the latter for any breach to occur.