AMERICAN OBSERVER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1662, 31 January 1913, Page 6

AMERICAN OBSERVER.

OF PEOPLES AND LAWS. INTERVIEW WITH MR. MILTON M'RAE, A wall-known newspaper man in the United States, Mr. Milton A. M'Eae, of Detroit, Michigan, is at present'a visitor to New Zealand, and, now in Wellington. For twenty years ho was president ot the I Scripps-M'ftae League of .Newspapers, one of tlio biggest strings of evening papers in the Statesr-125- tons of paper daily' is used in the production of them—and a league which practically controls the United Press Association of America, serving evening papers from the State of Ohio to the Pacific Coast. Five years ago Mr. M'Eae almost'broke down under the stress of newspaper management,— broke down, to uso his own phrase, "of hogitis or Amerjcanitis, trying to do too many things too quickly." Since then he has done some travelling. He has been threg times round the world, and ho has visited every country in it, 'and now he has come to New Zealand, Via South Africa and Australia. "New Zealand," he said to a Dominion interviewer, "is probably more written about in the.American press to-day than any other country of the world of its ipopulation. The world has an approximate population •of 1,500,000,000. New Zealand has but a million—tho, one-fifteen hundredth part of it—and yet she Is apparently a much-discussed country:on account 'of her legislation. ■'" The Premier of Australia, who dined with me the other night, admitted to me that a largo port of the legislation now in force in Australia came from this country ■ originally. Nations," you know, are like men; they cither create or imitate, so it would seem that, as far as progressive legislation is concerned, I am in a creative country."

Progressive America. Mr. M'Eae went on to discuss American affairs.; i "A simple analysis of the elections of the United State*," he said, "shows' the overwhelming progressiveness of 'the American people as a"hation. There were three candidates for the Presidency, Wilson, Eoosevclt, and Taft. There were between 13.000,000 and 14,000,000 votes cast, and over 10,000,000 were cast for Wilson.and Eoosevelt,.both of whom were running ■on the: most, progressive platform ever put forward in .the history of the' United States. I am of tho opinion that the introduction of legislation providing for a minimum wage, old age pensions, a general form of insurance,, and general municipal ownership of public utilities will come. It is only a question of time. The great State of Ohio has just a few. months ago voted to revise its constitution,' arid by-Act it can now own'and operate all public utilities such as .trams,'gas, and electric light.

Panama, "The Panama Canal question is a large i and divided one. You want to know whether the tolls are going to bo alike to all countries? lly own opinion is that Mr. Knox is'right when he says that the tolls ought to be the same to .all nations,- including our own, and if the treaty provided for that, that should be the ment. Mr. Knox further contends, Tightly in my judgment, that if there is an honest difference of opinion on the point, it ought to be arbitrated impartially, and :I haven't any "doubt that it will be if necessary. But I think it will be settled without arbitration. The:" new Administration will have td settle that matter. ' Canada and. Reciprocity, ;

. "Yes,'we talked of reciprocity with Canada a few years ago. .Both countries took a vote on the question—one accepted it, ■and the other, turned it down. I made speeches in support of it myself, alfd from our .Canadian cousins I received- letters saying that I was trying to deliver .them intu ; ;tho. hands; of America \> and by .our American'-farmers I .was told'that I was trying to rob them of their If reciprocity had-been agreed upon, I assure you'"'that there would havebeen a loud outcry right throughout thp United States. :All that talk of annexation'was pure poli'tical buncombe. Why, Canada is taking ifrom 60,000 to 70,000 people'right out of : the .United States ;every year. They are going into Canada to. buy land at'from .■two to three'pounds per acre', but this 'same laud in the North-West you could buy for\ half the money seven;years ago. There is "4000. miles of. dividing line, and most of it is only: an imaginary line. You see no armed men to'mark it; you see any number of Customs officers, but,no soi-' diers. I don't, think there was anything to fear from reciprocity. '■' ■

. Soma Observations. "What tempted.me to make this trip? I left home'on the day of the election—l voted first—and because L believed the Democratic Senate,' and House, and Administration in\the 'United States is going to be ultra-progressive, I wanted to see what some other , English-speaking countries hod done; I am here for 16 days. I propose to go through the southern partlof your country, return here, go north, to your thermal regions, and I shall leave' Auckland for' Vancouver in the middle of next'month. I have ■ a satchel ■ full of ; books' to read about New Zealand, and ■ I have talked already to about fifty New Zealanders. Although I am travelling for. pleasure I intend to .write a- few letters, :an*d, 'if my 'copy' is good enough, they will appear in newspapers having a total - circulation' of 1,800,000 a day.', 1 -.-;.. ./ ' Very briefly ho discussed affairs in South Africa.

- "I found "in South Africa a condition of things which fortunately does not exist here. They have not only got a ra ciali problem, but also a native question there. There, are only 1,300,000-. white pcoplo in the''South African Union, and 6,000,000 blacks.' The 'blacks have not given much'.trouble for a long time, .but they havo;had nine kaffir wars. They may not have : another,' but they are go'ing to have constant trouble so ■ long', as the Boer insists on what he professes is ■.his. God-given right to.', treat the negro as a slave. The matter of loyalty to the Empire will right itself in time, but the racial question m' Africa, and the other troubles, will never be!settled until it becomes a white man's country, and the enormous. unpopulated areas are settled! It seems to me.now that South Africa is not in it as a progressive country." '.■•