AS OTHERS SEE US.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16749, 16 March 1926, Page 5

AS OTHERS SEE US.

IMPRESSIONS OF N.Z^ BY HON. PEMBER REEVES. THE COUNTRY TRANSFORMED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Hon. W. Pember Reeves, speaking at a luncheon given by Ihc Chamber of Commerce., said that after travelling 4000 miles from Ihc, Bluff to Dargaville and Whangarei, lie has concluded that there Is no need for searcmongcring. After 30 years' absence he found that New Zealand was not so much changed as transformed. The New Zealander himself was a different man, taller and better, moro intelligent. and more useful. There were, of course., some weaker points —too much dependence on loans and advances. More production was need-' cd. The Government would have to scale down its expenditure, and municipal bodies would have to moderate their demands. Land could be made much more productive than now. He gave as instances the Middle Waikato and Upper Thames, and the country from Waitara and near AVellington. It had been said the banks had not treated the farmers liberally enough, but could the banks remedy the position if they tried? He had gone carefully into (he matter, and found farmers. graziers, etc., owed ten limes as much to outsiders as to the banks, and no action by the banks would vitally affect their position. He had seen farm after farm w r hich was too big, and the owner could not afford to employ sufficient labour, so that his property was standing still, or actually going back. Noxious weeds were getting a hold and were becoming a danger. Electrical schemes gave great promise, and the development of irrigation, especially in Central Otago, was wonderful.