"JUST DRIFTING"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 140, 11 December 1930, Page 22

"JUST DRIFTING"

A SUNDAY SENSATION

MR. FORBES EXPLOITED

SEWSPAPEK DISPLAY

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 31st October. The Eight Hon. G. W. Forbes, to give the New Zealand Prime Minister his new title, has been the principal figure under a newspaper "scare" heading. He gave an interview to a representative of the "Sunday Dispatch," and his statement, though outspoken, probably did not seem to him to merit any journalistic sensation. The "Sunday Dispatch," however, >one of the Kothermere group, was glad to discredit the Government on the one hand, and the Conservatives on the other on account of Mr. Baldwin's new allegiance to the quota system. Mr. Forbes's statement was, therefore, most opportune in view of the Paddington election, and it was starred in the front page with double headings and photo-, graph. . - . . t '■ Across tho full width of the pago was the heading in large black lettering: "Just drifting: Sad Empire Premiers." As double column headings there were the following: "Fading Hopes of ( EeBults at Conference"; "Plain Speaking by New Zealand Prime Minister"; "No Advance"; "Government Attitude as Bar to Bigger Trade Move"; "I Feel We Are Drifting On and Getting Nowhere." This prodigality of csptions must have given great satisfaction to editors and sub-ediws alike. In double column and with three paragraphs iii black lettering were the Premier's words: — "On the question of promoting greater trado among tho different parts of the Empire, I an sorry to say that I sco little hope of unanimity—and this is "the subject which most of the Dominion delegates consider the most important under discussion. "NO SURRENDER." "The Government has adopted an attitude of 'No Surrender,' and the Dominions, of course, cannot in any way dictate to the representatives of Britain. . "I can only say that the, people of New Zealand will learn with great regret that little advance has been made so far to promote.greater trade with the Motherland. "In adopting Mr. Snowden's view of preferential tariffs, the Government has, I consider, precluded any. possibility of real progress. "The quota system is now being examined, and has yet to be reported on, but I see little hope that a satisfactory solution of our problems will be found in it. "Even in the ease of wheat it would be hedged round with all sorts of difficulties. As to bulk pur*>ftse, there is general opposition to tho '■$»» in New Zealand." Mr. Forbes stated that he expected .the Conference, would terminate in tEe 'second weeic in November. "Although I believe the Conference 5s doomed to be abortive, except in matters like co-operation in research," he went on, "I do not regret coming here. • . . "I think every Prime Minister should visit Britain regularly to learn the views of the leading men and to gain personal knowledge of conditions here. That is why I hope .the Imperial Conference will be held always in London." Another interview. Mt.' Forbes went to Oxford on Sunday. A "Daily Mail" representative •was sent there to see him, and the combination of an interview and what he said at the Ralegh Club in the evening produced good "copy," not only for the "Daily Mail," but for all the other newspapers served by correspondents and agencies. The statement published by the "Mail" was:— "The whole question is, wrapped up in that of food taxes. Mr. 'Snowden says distinctly there will.be no food taxeswell, you can't get beyond that. "We simply seem to be drifting and not getting anywhere. Instead of food taxes, the Government is suggesting theoretical problems. "We arc practical people in the Antipodes. We know things which will work and have worked, but we look upon theoretical things with some suspicion. "The attitude of the Government,)

therefore, leaves little hope of unanimity. We cannot force them to change their views. AYe can only put forward our side. "IT CANNOT BE DONE." j "My belief is this—tho whole mat-! ter in regard to Preference is bound up in the alteration of your fiscal system. In our opinion it seems tho lirst tiling you have to do ia to protect your industries. "Manufacturers and tho fanning industry here are carrying a, heavy burden of taxation, but in spite of that you are asked at preseut to compete ygainst.countries whore tho burden i 3 not so heavy, and it simply cannot be done. "Tho people of New Zealand, I know, will learn with regret that little advance has been made so far in the effort to promote greater trade with the Motherland. ' lln adopting Mr. Snowden 's view of preferential tariffs the Government has, in my opinion, precluded any hope of real progress. "The quota system is now being examined, but it has not yet been reported on. Personally, however, I see little hope-of a satisfactory solution of our problems in that direction. "I can best sum up tho position by telling you what I said at tho Middle Temple last week. I told them there that I came from a country in which we grew a great deal of foodstuffs for Great Britain. "I said we were a very hard-working people, and that when we did knock oft' we played with tho same strcnuousness. Our big gamo in New Zealand is Kugby football, and at times we send across to your country an .All Black team. "WILL YOU RETURN THE PASS?" "You want to think of the Motherland and Dominions in the light of a Bugby team. You will not get anywhere unless you all adopt the team spirit. What wo say is that we should all get down and try to find out where we can effect an improvement. "The department in which we see most hope for improvement in the team is in the passing. Wo in the Dominions have tried to do our best to give a preference to British goods—we have passed the ball. "What I want to know now is, is the Mother Country going to pass the ball back to vs1?" Mr. Forbes added that although he believed tho Conference was not likely to result in what they had hoped for, he was glad he had come to this country. A BOMB-SHELL. The "Daily Express" on Monday morning made another feature of the statement.- Across the width; of the front page was the heading: "New Zealand Premier denounces the Quota." The double column article beneath dealt with the Paddington election and especially with the quota. . . "A bomb-shell has been thrown into the fight at South Paddington," the political correspondent wrote. "The : Prime Minister of.New Zealand has •denounced the quota." Later on, the correspondent says, referring to the "Sunday Dispatch" interview: "Mr. Forbes spoke with that restraint and courtesy which has characterised his actions from the time of his arrival, but'his words; were to the point." • ■ : ! All thia was.rather a surprise to Mr: Forbes, for he did not know the mysterious ways of v th6 ."stunt" Press! However, he has nothing to recall, and he says that numbers of people have told him that it was the very thing that ■was wanted if the Conference was to be saved. ' • "I have a bone to pick with you// said Mr. Philip Snowden to Mr. Forbes' on the Monday.' "It depends what' size the bone is," was Mr. Forbes's reply. That seems to have been all that could be considered criticism that has come his way. One recalls with interest the historic occasion seven years ago when the lato Mr Massey wrote to a London Newspaper, suggesting that the fiscal system of Great Britain was out of date.; The newspapers were almost unanimous in condemning Mr. Massey's heresy. Times have assuredly changed since'then.