DISTINGUISHED VISITORS.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17885, 4 December 1929, Page 6

DISTINGUISHED VISITORS.

Delighted w-ith what he has seen of New Zealand and particularly of the Waikato, Viscount Craigavon, Premier of Northern Ireland, who is now in Hamilton, predicted a great future for the country in an interview with a Waikato Times .reporter this afternoon. Lord Craigavon made it clear that his visit to the Dominion was entirely a private one and he was anxious for as few official engagements as possible. In view of this he had no wish to lecture to New Zealanders and offer advice. On the contrary he had come out here partly to learn and had, during Ihe few days he had been in the country, assimilated a good deal of useful information which he intended to turn to the advantage of his constituents on his return to Ulster. He expressed himself as amazed at the progress of the Dominion in a comparatively short period and considered that New Zealand had nothing to fear if the spirit of the early pioneers was carried on. When told that unemployment was a big factor disturbing the development of the Dominion, His Lordship cited the example set by the early settlers who laid the foundations to present prosperity by sheer toil. Without capital and without any facilities they were solely responsible for carving out the destiny of the country.

Word to Ulster Men. “ Speaking to Ulster men living in this land,” he added, “ I would be sorry to hear if they were included in the army of unemployed. If they maintain the instincts which characterised their fellow-countrymen in the old days they cannot be classed among the unemployed. They will exhibit the grit and determination which ensures success.”

Lord Craigavon described the unemployed problem in Ireland as entirely different from that in New Zealand. In Ulster unemployment was governed by Unemployed Insurance Act. which had relieved the position considerably. Under this scheme the employer paid one-third, the employee one-third and the Government onethird, and in slack times the employee had something to fall back upon. At the completion of a shipbuilding contract at Belfast employees might leave, say for the Clyde, so that the constant removal of labour from one place to another usually had the effect of making the position less acute. 11 In Ulster some of us would give our eyes to have one-tenth of the unoccupied land you have here,” he went on. ”If the standards set by the old pioneers were rememberinl you might find little difficulty in solving your unemployed problem.”

Old Waikato Relic.

While looking over the town this morning, Viscount Craigavon was shown the remnants of the old gun-

LORD AND LADY CRAIGAVON. PLEASED WITH WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN. EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE PIONEERS.

boat Rangiriri, the vessel which sailed down the Waikato River in 1864, bringing with it the first settlers of Hamilton. He was intensely interested in the old vessel and to learn that it had been built in Belfast at the dockyards of Messrs. Harland and Wolff, it was a commentary on the quality of shipbuilding in Ulster to hear also that the original engines were still functioning in another boat. Referring to Ireland to-day. Lord Craigavon said that the country appeared to have settled down to a period of permanent prosperity. The South had got what they wanted, while the North was satisfied because the link with the Empire had not been severed or weakened. Now that questions of constitution had been settled, progress was the watchword throughout the country.

Lord and Lady Craigavon will be accorded an informal welcome by Waikato Ulstermen at a function at the Winter Show Hall this evening, and will leave for the Waitomo Caves tomorrow morning, accompanied by Mr. D. Ardell, of the Internal Affairs Department. They will spend a few days at the home of Sir Andrew Russell before resuming their tour of the Dominion.

TO-DAY’S ACTIVITIES. VISIT TO RUAKURA FARM. FRANICTON FACTORY INSPECTED. Viscount Craigavon, Premier of Northern Ireland, who arrived in Hamilton on a two-days’ visit with the Viscountess last evening, was shown about the town and environs in a car this morning. He looked over the Frankton butter box factory and was greatly impressed by the magnitude of the dairy industry. During the morning he met several Ulster men.

This afternoon Lord Craigavon inspected the Ruakura State Farm.

An informal welcome lo Hamilton will be extended to the distinguished visitors by .a committee of Ulster people at the Winter Show Hall this evening.

Lord and Lady Craigavon will leave Hamilton to-morrow in continuance of their Dominion tour. * The committee which is arranging this evening’s welcome to Viscount and Viscountess Craigavon wishes Ulster people of the district to know that a few seats have been reserved for those who may not have had time to apply for and receive formal invitations.