HON T. MACKENZIE IN HAWKE'S BAY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 612, 15 September 1909, Page 4

HON T. MACKENZIE IN HAWKE'S BAY.

IMPRESSIONS AND PROMISES/'',; AND REMARKS ON THE OUTLOOK. - Napier, September i 3.: Interviewed hero by a "Daily' Telegraph"

reporter .regarding;his visit to.Hawke's bay, the Mackenzie said:—"Whilst I knew that > the people/.were.-showing- considerable enterprise, no idea that the fruit-growing industry had beon' , pushed forward-in so thorough and \onpable, a manner. ■■ At Hastings I .visited, the Friiuley Canning Factory, and was distressed'to hear that, the industryis not in as, flourishing a; state, could desire, but ~I am .convinced;that the , .'! trouble is only ..temporary,, because ,tho depression -,which has' prevailed throughout tho'i world (beginning' in America in ,1907) is rapidly passing away. ■■ I need not'enter into,the faotors dominating- the situation; beyond saying that trade is-reviving. Woi are 'all delighted to 'see that in England the'tiirn of the tido has come and that the imports 'and exports,',instead,of. showing the. decline'that has marked so many months,'are now, ;both oh the right side to a total of something liko. seven or "eight .million' pounds for the month' of July. . ■; . . : .: ' "As -regards New. Zealarid, 'the'improvement that- has marked the' close of the half-year ended June 80—which showed a difference be•tween. imports iand-exports of over 5J million' pounds in our favour,.; and whioh pessimists thought wonld ' not" continue—is' still.:' more

marked' for (haVmonths of • July and August, and such being the case it. requires 'no 'gift of sight-:,to foretell 'that its injtuenco throughout the whole of this Dominion must be far reaching. ■Wβ learn, too.'that thesawmilling, flax, and frozen meat industries are slowly improving,' so. that, ; putting all these factors together, when'we hear expressions of doubt' in .connection, with such industries as the canning industry, we.must feel that it can only be of a temporary nature -.-'-'■ ;.--.. ;"I also visited the Arataki and Te 'Mfttavineyards,'arid,: from what I saw thero.l am led; to believe that tlte winfpr.odn.cing industry has , a big future before it.. - I am .very deeply indebted to Sir. Dillon, M.P., and others for their kindness: to. me during my visit to Hastings." ~ -.- . , :. . ... '.- . "Coming .to Napier," continued the Minister, "I .was met by the. member (Mr. J. .tfigor Brow.n), who has brought l under,lny notice a great inanv matters of importance tc' this-, community, to whieh L will give niy very best attention.. on my return to ■'Wellington. . We visited the. breakwater, your very fino esplanade, and the baths, which will add greatly to the attractiveness of the. town. I was pleased'

to seo the'provision made on the beach tor tV enjoyment of the little ohfldren in the erection of Bwihgß,'eee-sw6, etc. , , thesp things reminding me'of: what was-done &t the opening of- , the Royal Victoria Park in-London. "Subsequently, I,visited the Tangyiz washont and the Esk Biver. Jlr. Brown pointed out that these two breaks were tho only disconnecting links in the line of. communication beweeu Wellington 'and Gisborne. Theeo are matters ; whioh I will discuss -with my colleagues at;the noit mooting of tho Cabinet. I 'was .rather surprised to.see snoh limited settlement along: the .line of road/ however. There appears'to be an extensive stretch of good country suitable Jor.: closer settlement, and the need for development in thig direction I was pointedly brought under my notice by the member for Napier." This afternoon Mr. iMaekensie received a de-' putation from the East.Coast Railway League, who asked that'tho survey*of the lino should be complotcd, Mr. Mackenzie promised to giro the mftttor his favourable consideration, and said that ho yronld bring the views of the deputation before his colleague, tho Minister for Pnblio .Works.'- . -■ ■ , : In response to a request from Mr. F.. VT. ■Williams, ho promised that th« Agricultural Department wonld make a display at tho anfftmh show of the IlAwko's Bay A. and P. Society. ' ■■ ' - -