A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 206, 26 May 1921, Page 6

A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR

SIR RALPH WILLIAMS, K.C.M.G. THE GOSPEL OF HARD WORK INTERESTING VIEWS ON NEW ZEALAND “If I were to preach to the New Zealander in the street, what I should say to him is this: For Heaven’s sake encourage immigration, and whatever work you do, put your back into it, and for the working hours, which should be reasonable, work all you know if you want to make the country what you believe it ought to be.” This is what Sir Ralph Williams, K.C.M.G., said to a Dominion reporter yesterday afternoon in the course of an interview—an interview that from Sir Ralph’s own choice had nothing to do with Patagonia, nothing to do with Bechuanaland, nothing to do with Gibraltar, nothing to do with Barbados, or with the Windward Islands, or with a hundred other places*, made familiar to Hiim in a life-time of travel and adventure. For Sir Ralph Williams, who has spent the past year in touring New Zealand by motor-car (he has been iu a train twice iu the last twelve months), has in ! h‘is time played many parts. In 1873-74 he was an explorer in Patagonia; ten years later he was filling the same role in Central Africa; ho was head of the Civil Intelligence Department, Bechuanaland Expedition, in 1884-85; and among other things he has been British Agent to the old South African Republic, Colonial Treasurer of Gibraltar, Colonial Secretary of Barbados, Resident Commissioner of the Bechuanaland Protectorate, Governor of the Windward Islands, Governor of Newfoundland, and President of the Second Line of Defence for the war in British East Africa. It is not of his adventures that the visitor cares most to talk. All through his career love of the British Empire has been his dominant passion. So it is not strange that his conversation should bp directed iu tho first place to the.things that most gravely affect the destinies .of our great commonwealth of nations. His friendship with one of the great Empirebuilders, Cecil Rhodes, is. one of the pleasantest memories of his life. "My idea in coming to this country was not te see the beauty spots, of which I have seen so many in many parts of the world.” the visitor explained. "I wished to learn what the conditions were here. I have formed tho opinion that New Zealand is capable of supporting a veiy much larger population, and it is a thousand pities that it doos not possess such a population. Any tendency which may exist among Labour classes to check immigration into the country is very deplorable. I think tho only thing that can make a country successful is development bv means of an abundant population. Any idea that you increase wages by keeping back population is founded on a fallacy, of course. I think all the available farming' land is marvellously fertile and very, very productive. I am immensely struck by the country and the quality of it. I know no other .part of tho world, except the Old Country, which lends itself better to farming on a moderate scale. "What do I think of the New Zealander, the man in the street, you moan, not tho man in tho club? Well, I think that to appreciate the New Zealander you must not take him exactly on tho surface. When> you first meet .him, and. happen to be an Englishman with an English manner, he is inclined to be a little suspicious of you and is rather fearful lest you should think yourself better than he is—and he shows it! But the moment you get underneath that crust, you find he is a remarkably good follow; a good, sterling, kindly fellow, always xeady to help you in a difficulty, as I have often 'had the opportunity of proving in my journeys on the road. “I think that one of the most, hopeful things in the political life of New Zealand is that, although it is purely democratic, New Zealand has not yet had returned to power what they call a Labour majority. The so-called purely Labour Party—section I would call it, not party—in the House of Representatives does not seem to me to carry any real power in the country, and this is to the good of the country. I think the most fatal thing that is troubling Labour now is the go-slow policy. The world or any part of it cannot go ahead unless each man who is not a loafer puts his best efforts into the work he is doing. That is true, not copy-book rubbish.! If a man doos not put forth his best efforts from the time he is a boy at school till he goes down to tho grave, he is nobbing his country, and does not deserve to succeed himself. So that when I sco here, and in Aus-' trnlia and in Britain, Labour declining te take its fair part in the rebuilding of the world after tho war, I deplore it beyond measure. The present conditions are due to the disturbed sense of the country, and the dangerous propaganda which is being preached to what is technically called, the working men.” Sir Ralph Williams said that ho saw very grave danger threatening the supremacy of Britain as a manufacturing notion. “If wo cease te ba the great manufacturing nation we have been, what have we loft?” he asked. "Where the Americans beat us (and. I am not pro-American —God forbid!) is in this: that wjiile they quarrel among themselves they are patriotic enough to put the best of their energy into their work, a fact which enables them to receive high wages and have a very big turn-out which can compete with the turn-out of the rest of the world. We are not patriotic enough to do this. There is nothing that annoys me so much ns 'Ca* canny.’ "I have learned to appreciate New Zealand, and te regard it as a very valuable part of the Empire. And here is something that T have also teamed: that although violent Socialism and Republicanism may lift their heads very high on the platform sometimes, still the tendency of the people is towards law and order, and though thev are theoretically republican, in their heart of hearts the great majority .are strong supporters of the Monarchy. Sir Ralnh Williams knows well the great Industrial centres of the Homeland. because during tho war he worked for two years for National. War Aims, the non-party organisation which employed speakers (without payment) to co about tho country encouraging the workers to put forth their best efforts for the winning of the war. As. above, he had ear service of another sort as President of the Second Line of Defence for the War in British East Africa. That was in 1914. Tn April, 1915. he was invalided home, and he received tho thanks of the Governor and the General Officer Commanding. After tho armistice camo, ho Tofusod to stand for election to the House of Commons, but went electioneerin’ for otlters in the Coalition interest. "I supported Lloyd George,” he said, "bream* h-> was Iho only man before tho public who was able to do the job. just ns he is the onlv man before lh" public who can, do it now. T worked against him for many vonrs, but T am a strong supporter of his now.” Tt may be of interest to remark IW fiftv rears ago the. distinguished traveller was for a time earning his living in the Australian bush. Tie is a Welshman bv birth.