NEW ZEALAND IN AUSTRALIA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 58, 2 December 1907, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND IN AUSTRALIA.

THE GOVERNMENT'S MELBOURNE OFFICE. ' The other day (writes bur correspondent in Melbourne) I paid a visit to tho Now Zealand Government's ofiico ill Melbourne. Tho ofhco was established on Juno 1, 1906, under t'no management of Mr. 11. J. Manson, and is situated on tho ground floor of one of tho principal buildings in Collins Street, quite clcsc to the General .Post Office. It is a large and spacious suite of rooms, handsomely furnishod, and tho walls are adorned with a magnificent collection of paintings, photographs and skotches of Now Zealand scenery, aild some very fine specimens of trout, stags' heads, and stufFcd birds. Mr. Maiison was only too willing to spare timo' for a chat on the work of his office. "Many New Zealandors think," said Mr. Manson, "that such offices as this are established mainly for tho benefit of 'foreigners,' and they regard tho money spent in their maintenance as a somewhat doubtful investment. That is a very narrow view to take of our work." • "As a matter of fact," I suggested, "the New Zealanders benefit quite as much themselves as do the 'foreigners' ?" "Much more so," said Mr. Manson, emphatically. "It is a matter of personal convenience that visitors should be supplied with information about tho Dominion; but it is a mattor'of commercial and industrial importance to the New Zealanders themsolves. What I may term the pleasuro aspect of our work —tho supplying, of information as to fares, mapping of itineraries, and so forth for holiday and pleasuro trips—is important to.Now Zoalanders in an indirect way; but tho business aspect of our work is important to thein in a direct commorcial sense." "I suppose you have a good many traders nnd .investors visiting you in search of information about Now Zealand." "Oh, yes," was the reply, "and farmers too. We have a very fino display of Now Zealand woollen goods, and in these we can certainly heat Victoria. Our goods aro really nil wool and good wool, and our mills arc hotter equipped with the latest machinery than' avo the mills here. We have also a very good display of timber, and I hope sometinie to'have our ofiico completely equipped with Now Zealand-made furniture, made of Now Zealand woods. For really beautiful and artistic furniture there is no wood like the New Zealand, aild if cabinetmakers can be got to realise that, a very decent trado might bo worked up in the knotted and gnarled pieccs which.are now simply reject from our timber mills, 'to say .nothing of ordinary curled or wavy kauri, puriri, rewarowa, and so forth." "And what about tho farmers?" 1 asked. • "Well." said Mr. Manson, "here is.ono way in which we try to benefit the farmer," and he indicated a very fine collection of. New Zealand seod. "Wo have shown these seeds to a very .large number of \ ictorian farmers, and in many casos have arranged for an ex- - change of seed wheat with New Zealand farmers, thereby enabling both our own farmers' and those here to improve ,tho quality of their cereal crops." _ _ "I"suppose you get a great many enquiries as to labour matters in New Zealand, Mr. Manson?". "Well," said that gentleman, laughinc. "I think-"we get enquiries about everything; tliis office partakes of tho. nature of an encyclopedia in the eyes of most folks, but thanks to a splendid set of reference books which Mr. Donne has given me, I can generally supply tho information needed,'and when I en/i't 1 fall bank on my cliiof henchman, Mr. Millington, and I don't often find him wanting I can assure you. But coming to labour matters: We are sunplied from month to month with the official labour reports, giving details of the labour marl r "t in each centre of New Zealand, and in other ways we keep in touch with the Dominion. A g-eat many enquiries relate to the tariff; these comc mainly from persons desirous of opening up business with New Zealand.. Of course the high Australian tariff agninst New Zealand goods operates very delotcriously against us, and I am.a groat- 'barracker' for reciprocity. If wo could get that, Australia would furnish a very extensive market- for many Now Zealand productions'.' A' great many questions aro also asked on land matters, and we aro able, to draw very favourable comparisons iii regard to our own land legislation as against the Australian, Politicians are also amongst our. regular visitors, and hero the.v arc constantly quoting what Nov/ Zealand is doing in this way and that way." "Do you get many calls from New Zealanders?" - 1 , ' ' "Oh, yes,-'a great many, but wo ought to he liioro widely known in this way in'.'the Dominion. Now Zealanders visiting hero aro supnliod with information as to tho sights of Melbourne and Victoria, given passes to the Mint,, tho Fire Brigade tower, tho Observatory. and helped to onjov themselves in every possiblo way. I am trying to arrange for a four-oar, toam to come across to tho next Henloy-on-the-Yarra. New Zealand has the champion rower, champion footballers, came second, in'thc.rifle competition in Sydney recently,. beating the English team, Apologue won the Melbourne' Cup. and why shouldn't n. four-oar team of Now Zealanders win somethirie at Henloy-on-the-Yarra ?" , "Just one more question, Mr. Manson. What do you do with air that literature?" I asked; indicating a pile of New Zealand magisines} newspapers and weeklies. , . ''Well, first of all, we encourage people to chriio in and, read it. Wo post up outside the office some of the. illustrated ;pages of- the weeklies—and that board is always crowded. I c'.in assure you," said Mr. Manson. "Then wheii tho papers have been lying about, our olfico for. some time, wo pass them on to public institutions, dentists, medical men, emigrant ships—pass them on anywhero we

think thoy will do poor] to New Zealand. Wo are also getting out a little handbook to give ajvay ,to visitors and others, telling them :'hont: New .Zealand: We have a lni.ee map, 6ft. x 3ft. 6in., showing the lakes and rivers, and important railroads and coach and steamer routes, before which the visitor can stand rind'decide where he would like to go. Then J frequently give lectures iii the largo room, illiistratin.o: these witli lantern views, and snndiiT? nut invitation cards to persons I think likely to he interested or helpful. But tbe-bineest piece of literature we have," added Mr..Manson, laimhing, "is this." And ho took up a huge visitors' book,'with nago after .page full 'of signatures from people in all ; parts of the world.