VITAL TALKS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21155, 3 July 1940, Page 9

VITAL TALKS

NEW ZEALAND MINISTER VISIT TO AUSTRALIA FINANCE AND SUPPLY (called Pres* Assn.—alec. Tel. Copyright) MELBOURNE, July 2 Valuable discussions are proceeding between the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, New Zealand Minister of Supply, and Federal Ministers on finance and the supply of munitions and materials. Mr Sullivan is also conferring with the chiefs of the Air, Army and Navy stalls, all of whom, Mr Sullivan said, have shown a definite desire to be helpful to New Zealand. In order to make himself familiar with the practical side of munition production, Mr Sullivan has visited the various munition works and explosives factories and the railway workshops, where a considerable amount of military work is being undertaken. He has been deeply impressed by the enormous efforts Australia is making. The negotiations which Mr Sullivan is conducting are not completed, but substantial progress has been made. He has met a number of well-known Australians, including Sir John Latham, Chief Justice of the High Court, Mr A. A. 'Dunstan, Premier of Victoria, and Mr J. Curtin, Federal Labour Leader. Mr Sullivan has also inspected the Government sugar beet factory at Maffra, where 5000 tons of sugar are produced annually from 30,000 tons of beet. He inspected the Maryvale paper mills, where 110,000 tons of pulp and board are produced annually at a price lower than imported. Mrs Sullivan has had an interesting time. She was the guest of Mrs Menzies, wife of the Prime Minister, at lunch, and met the wives of most of the Federal Ministers. The date of the mission’s departure is as yet uncertain.