EAST INDIES IMPRESSIONS

Evening Star, Issue 22444, 15 September 1936, Page 5

EAST INDIES IMPRESSIONS

MR J. S. BARTON'S VISIT fPat United Press Association.l AUCKLAND, September 14. Mr J. S. Barton, chairman of the bondholders’ Incorporation Commission. who returned by the Niagara after a two months* holiday visit to the Dutch East Indies and Australia, stated; “Bali is a most interesting place to visit on account of its primitive social organisation.” Mr Barton stated that Java was very like New Zealand. . an overseas dominion developed with capital from the Home Country and dependent upon the sale of its produce to the Homo Country. He had met many of the Dutch officials and the vice-president of the East Indies Council, and was told that the country had felt the depression severely and was still having difficulties. In the words of one official, “ Our special problem is that we have 80,000,000 people to feed.” Referring to conditions in Australia, Mr Barton said that both in Brisbane and Sydney people were talking of a genuine return to prosperity. He had had several talks with responsible and well-informed business men and believed it was justifiable to say that Australia was returning to prosperity. People were showing great faith in the country. Although Mr Barton was out of touch with New Zealand affairs whil^

in the Dutch East Indies, he had an interesting experience while on a small steamer travelling between the islands of Bali and Sourabajm. There was % Dutch broadcast coming from th,- wireless set in the saloon, but suddenly it broke off into English, and Mr Barton heard a fairly clear description of Mr Nash’s Budget'speech in New Zea-' land.