INTERVIEW IN LONDON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 23, 7 June 1911, Page 7

INTERVIEW IN LONDON.

ALONG THE ALL-RED ROUT* PREMIER'S IMPRESSION OF THE TRIP TO LONDON. LONDON. April 2S. Shortly after his arrival Sir Joseph Ward granted me an interview, in the course of which he gave me an account of his trip to Ixmdon by the All-Red Route, and of his doings in Canada and Neu York. •‘The trip across the Pacific in the Mak lira." -aid the Premier, "was an interesting ami a pleasant one. From Fiji onwards the steamer was run at her best. and the time taken was a record for speed. There was a full passenger list, and those al>oar<i had only one opinion to express about the st earner, and that was of the most favourable nature. So ae had the l>enerit of the shortest passage on record across the Pacific, and naturally that tended to make me even more well disposed to the route than I have always been. It went to show what could l»e done in the way of shortening the distance between New Zealand and England. At the rate the Makura covered the distance to Vancouver, it would mean reaching Ixmdon in from 27 to 28 days from New Zealand, under existing conditions. “Both at Victoria and at Vancouver* and especially at the latter place. 1 was greatly struck by the extraordinary progress that had taken place during the short time between this and my former visit less than two before. I visited places which have been transformed in the interval from waste land into a great suburb, with many hundreds of houses of the best kind in brick and stone, and streets, footpaths, sanitati m, parks, and reserves provided for the people. It is almost. like a fairy tale to hear from authoritative people what an amount of money ha> been expended both by private individuals and by municipal authorities to provide for the everincreasing population at Vancouver. VANCOUVER'* LAND ‘•‘The great Canadian P i iii ■ Railway Proprietary have been probably tire greatest factor in bringing about this change. They have cut up and li>p »-’•«! of large areas of their land, and made it a condition that no reduction in u

on which residences were to be built Could be effected by the owner. They advanced the greater portion of the money for the building of the home*. and the effect of the system laid down by them is that the houses, at least in one of the new suburbs, are all ereeted in halfacre blocks. The result is that they have created what is usually called the ‘West End’ in the larger cities of the world, and the transfer of numbers <>f people from other parts has been effected as the outcome of their policy. “There is little doubt in my mind that Vancouver itself has been passing through a vigorous land and building loom for some time past. Some of ths operations have meant a degree of success to those interested that would be almost unbelievable if the facts were not well authenticated. No one was not at all surprised to meet scores of people who during the last few years had accumulated considerable fortunes.

“Naturally, the question arises as to whether this is likely to be maintained. 1 put this question to a number of leading people in Vancouver, and the invariable answer was that the influx of per inanent residents to Vancouver was so great that although every effort was being made to accommodate them, the pace could not be fast enough to enable this to be done.

“This may be judged from the fact that at present it is estimated that 40,000 new citizens are arriving in twelve months. What was a comparatively small place when I passed through it in 1895—sixteen years ago—has to-day a population of 150,000. And the greater proportion of that advance has taken place during the last five or six years.

Vancouver, in my opinion, is destined to be one of the greatest seaports of the West. It is well situated, and is developing a very large trade to the East as well as to practically every part of the world.

“I had been requested by cable to address the Canadian Club there, and also to deliver a speech to the women of Vancouver, but I had to decline both Invitations, as the time at my disposal did not admit of my extending my stay in Vancouver. Early on the day following our arrival we left by the C.P.R, route for Montreal. A WONDERFUL COUNTRY. “Tire average New Zealander could scarcely realise without seeing it what the snow is like on the route through the Rockies and the Selkirks and the Manitoba plains at the time of year that we went through. The whole territory up to within 20 miles of Winnipeg was covered with snow, as far as I could see. The contrast between New Zealand and Canada in that respect was most marked. It shows what a wonderful country Canada is when you realise that for about five months in the year outdoor operations practically cease, that is. so far as cultivating or using the land is concerned; and yet 330,000 fresh people migrated to Canada from England, the Continent and the United States last year. And this feature of its development is one that has been promoted as a matter of policy by the Government of the country in order to fill up the huge territories that are lying to a very large extent idle. When one considers that Canada is 110.003 square miles greater than the United States, it will be realised how small her present population of S or 9 millions is compared with the capacity of the country.

“Some idea of the position as between Canada and England may be gleaned from the fact that in Canada there are 11 people to the mile, and in England 500. while in the United States the number is 401. <o you will see that the great work of development and settlement in Canada must still take years to accomplish. In the meantime there is one note struck by the Canadians wherever you go in their country- that of satisfaction with the growth and progress of Canada and the prosperous condition that undoubtedly exists at lea-t wherever I went. SPEECHES EN ROUTE.

"At Winnipeg, in response to an invitation, I addressed a gathering of the Canadian Club, and passed on to Toronto. and from there to Niagara, where we •pent a Sunday, leaving the same night fotOttawa. There I addressed another meeting of the Canadian Club, at which the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and other Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, and a number of members of Parliament were present. On the morning of the third day at Ottawa we left for New York.

“I avoided public speaking in New York. Two important luncheons were given for me there by leading merchants, but they were of a private nature, though I spoke on both occasions as to the growth and development of New Zealand.

“The men whom I met were all very interested in the possibility of doing trade with New Zealand. I referred to the fact that as a matter of policy we had given a preference to British imports, and also called their attention to the fact that the tariff of the United States made it difficult for New Zealanders to do business with that country. I stated that on some of the products of our country, such as wool and dairy produce, there was room for trade developments on fair and equitable lines, if the United States was willing to meet us in a fair way.

"I committed myself to nothing, expressing the opinion that it was worthy of consideration in both countries. I pointed out that on the West Coast market it was cheaper for their consumers to have butter, eheese, and certain kinds of frozen meat front New Zealand than for the consumers to have to pay the charges of the long railway journey from the East to supply their market. Generally speaking, that was recognised by the people to whom I spoke. The steamer freightage on goods from New Zealand was lower than the cost of the rail charges from the East, through the Selkirks and Roekies. Our own train journey in America was about 51XX) miles, which will give you an idea of the distances goods have to be railed.

“I pointed out wherever I went the prospects of trade development, and said that New Zealand was anxious to have fresh markets for her large and increasing output of natural products. I think there is a prospect of a certain amount of our meat getting into both Canada and the United States, if we had proper facilities for doing it. A LECTURE ABOARD SHIP. “On the voyage to England in the Lusitania, I was invited to address the passengers on New Zealand, and did so. It will give some idea of the accommodation on the Lusitania, when I say that upwards of 500 people formed the audience. I spoke for an hour and gave them a general outline of New Zealand, both as to its natural advantages and its productiveness. ‘I called their attention to the fact that in the opinion of some modern scientists, distinctive characteristics of a few of the plants indigenous to New Zealand are to be found elsewhere only in South America, •while some scientists believe that ages ago there was some connection between New Zealand and South America. I put it that the remarkable coincidence referred to was one for them to try to solve, as I certainly could not.

“I also told them of the remarkable fish, Pelorus Jack, and of his visits to steamers passing to and from Nelson. It interested them greatly. The scepticism regarding the fish in the minds of some of the passengers may be gauged by the fact that I was personally interviewed by a number of them afterwards to ascertain whether I was joking or telling a fairy tale. I am very sorry to learn from the Press to-day that Pelorous Jack is dead, and I hope the report will prove to be incorrect. Tire deepest interest was taken in this fish by travellers, and there was a charm and attractiveness about Lis doings which appealed to people who had never visited New Zealand. It is surprising how many have declared that they would go there for the express purpose of seeing Pelorus Jack. “On the Lusitania, I also gave them the story of Tutanekai and Hinemoa, and the passengers were very much interested in it. One of the principal citizens of the United States, who was aboard the steamer, afterwards told me that he would visit New Zealand next year. He was candid enough to say that he had not known much about it until after I had spoken, but he proposed to visit it for the double purpose of investing money if he could find suitable openings, and also of seeing the eountrv.

“M e had a very pleasant trip across, and got there all well. Lady Ward and Mrs. Findlay are suffering from colds caught a day or so before their arrival and are confined to their rooms, but they hop.? to be all right in a few days.”