TRADE WITH RUSSIA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19159, 16 November 1927, Page 10

TRADE WITH RUSSIA.

COJfiPROMISE IMPROBABLE. Captain A. S. Cunningham Reid, M.P. for Warrington, Lancashire, and the youngest Member in the British House, is at present in Christchurch. Questioned by a reporter of The Press regarding Anglo-Russian relations in view of the Arcos raid, and Sir W. Joyuson-Hicks's statement, as published yesterday, that if trade does not result from this concession that a Soviet employer may visit Britain for six months with a possibility of extension, it will be impossible to justify the continued stay of Russians in Britain, Captain Reid says that England had never attempted to handicap Russian trade. Right from the beginning Sir Joyn-son-Hicks had made it perfectly clear that he wanted trade with Russia to go on, but he did not want to keep in the country a pack of scoundrels. As a matter of fact, the Arcos raid had not had the slightest effect on trade with Russia one way or the other. An official agreement did not necessarily affect trade, and there was no reason, therefore, why a disagreement should. The respective British and Russian firms would carry on just the same. "Sir Joynson-Hicks has told me himself that he wants to retain Russian trade," said Captain Reid, "but we had to get that nest of spies out of the country. If New Zealanders realised that Britain's exports to Russia are only one per cent, of her total exports to the world, they would appreciate that it is not very important either way. It seems to me we have been worrying a great deal too much over Russian trade, though, of course, we want it if we can get it." Industrial Affairs. Referring to industrial affairs at Home, Captain Reid said that it would not be feasible for the British Government to find work for all those receiving the dole, as had been suggested, and thus give the unemployed some work to accomplish in return for their gratuity. If this were done it would encourage the workers to rely on the Government making work for them, and instead of trying to find employment at their particular trade they would wait for work to be provided. i "On the other hand, we have underj taken all work which showed it would [definitely improve the country," he said, "and thus employed very many out-of-work men in afforestation, roadmaking, and so on. The result is that we have the best roads in the world at the present time." Captain and Mrs Reid have visited Canada and the United States, Honolulu, and the surrounding -Hawaiian islands, and the South Sea Islands during their tour. He is enthusiastic regarding Samoa, which is far and away ahead of the other islands visited, both as to administration and natural advantages. Samoa's present pre-eminent position he attributes to New Zealand jurisdiction under Sir George Richardson. He found that the recent trouble had been stirred up by a few traders, and was representative of the feelings of only a very small part of the community. "My wife and I have not a shadow of doubt that of the places visited we like New Zealand best," concluded Captain Reid, "not the least reason being that we feel at home here. It is astoundingly English." He went on to remark on the "super-English appetite" of the New Zealand people, and the amazing number of meals, with tea, that one was expected to take in a day. "But I've nothing to say against that," he remarked jocularly; "I'm very fond of eating." Captain Reid was educated at the "University College of London, and at Cambridge. He served in the Great War from 1914-1918, as a sapper until disabled, and then with the Royal Flying Corps. He brought down ten enemy aeroplanes, and was mentioned in dispatches, being awarded the D.F.C. He was appointed Staff-Captain to General Sir John Salmond, commanding Air Forces in the field. He was elected Conservative member for Warrington, an industrial centre, in 1922, replacing a Socialist member, and has acted as private secretary to Sir John Baird, First Commissioner of Works, 1922, and as private Parliamentary secretary to Colonel Ashley, Minister for Transport, 1924.