AFTER THIRTY YEARS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1925, Page 4

AFTER THIRTY YEARS

HON W. P. REEVES VISITS DOMINION.

AUCKLAND, November 9. “I want most to see the new race.” So one of New Zealand’s history-mak-ers, the Hon AV. Pember Reeves, expressed his hope and delight at tho prospect of setting foot again in his native land after an absence of thirty years. Statesman, economist, poet and ambassador, at the heart ol the Empire, Mr Reeves deserves the welcome which New Zealand is sure to give hi in. He reached Auckland to-day by way of Vancouver, and expects to spend all tho summer in tho country where his name was and still should be a household word. A thin, alert man of sixty-nine, with bent shoulders, Mr Reeves is still recognisable as the original of the old photographs which for many years have alone portrayed his features to iiis follow countrymen. "I can hardly tell you how much it means to me,” he said with very evident feeling, as the Niagara swung in to the wharf. “When I came upon Jock Ibis morning, .1 was so excited that I could hardly speak.” Plainly tho man who had found inspiration for poetry in New Zealand’s hills and forests was once again under their spell. His wish to see the new race he had expressed earlier in the interview. “It is indeed new,” lie said. “AN lien 1 left New Zealand, such men as Urey and A’ogel were not long dead. Those who were hoys of ten are now middleaged men. Auckland had a population of not more than 70,009 and we thought it quite a big place. The whole country had only about 700,000 people, half the population of to-day. ..s you may imagine, many of my old friends are gone, but there are still many whom I have to see.” Mr Reeve’s voice again showed his feelings as he spoke of the All .15-lacks, and plainly they had aroused in hint a desire to see more of the new generation that they so well represented. “1 was at their lasi three matches,” ho explained, “ and 1 am. quite sure that they were better than tho 1905 team. 1 am an old Rugby footballer, you know. AYe expected a good lot ol forwards, but we were not prepared lyj’ such brilliant hacks. In Ncpia there was a player whom one does not oiten see in a lifetime. It seemed to mo that they had all the dash of the earlier team and some new tricks as well. I shall always remember that last match. They were playing most o) the time fourteen men against fifteen, with (50,000 people shouting themselves hoarse. I remember telling my English friend. ‘lf England scored the first try. yon will heal' such a yell as you never heard in all your liie,’ and it was as I said.” Mr Reeves was certain that Now Zealand soldiers and the footballers who came alter them had done much to increase the Dominion’s prestige in the Motherland. " 1 know that they made a very deep impression,” lie said. " I have lived so long in England now that Englishmen talk freely to me as one of themselves, and 1 know what tier thought and said about our men. At no time did i ever hear anything but praise of them, their deeds on the battle-field and their hearing in England. It was the same with the All Blacks. They were modest, quiet., good boys. They did not boast, and everybody liked them. People naturally came to a country that could produce such splendid young athletes.” In every way, fie said. New Zealand stood higher in the Home Country than ever before. Since the later nineties English financiers had recognised that it was an increasingly prosperous land, and their expectations hail been justified. Politically its prestige was unimpaired. Its attitude to Imperial and foreign affairs was sound, loyal and enlightened, and its people wove liked and esteemed. Fpeaking of his own mission to New Zealand. .Mr Reeves said that he had come to see for hinisell the dovolnninonl of the country and to inquire into financial and economic questions in the interests of the National Bank of New Zealand, of which he 'was chairman. He hoped to visit every important district in tho country, lieginning in the south. He believed that lie was expected to see the Dunedin Exhibition, and Christ’s College, his old school, wished him to attend its hroaking-up at -Christchurch in December. .Some time after the New Year he would spend several weeks in Auckland porvineo. which had made tremendous progress since he had seen it last.

Discussing the recent New Zealand elections, Mr Reeves said that he had goi tlie results by wireless shortly lifter leaving Fiji. " I had expected something of the sort,” he remarked, " though such a result would have surprised me a year ago. Now the only surprise to me is the (iovernment’s great majority. “ I do not consider that the outlook for English Liberalism is bright.” continued Mr Reeves, in answer to an inquiry regarding polities at Home.

" I ilo not express any opinion regarding party politics in New Zealand, mind you. hut in England Die outlook for the Liberals is had. They have a i iiiisidi-ra hie vote In the country .still, unite nut <d proportion to their small hand in [’ailiameut. hut their leadership lacks popularity, their policy lacks didiniteness. .Many of them are chiefly occupied in denouncing Socialism. The people say, Jf we are to have denunciation of Socialism, wo might as well have it from the Conservatives.’ At last election a largo number ol rich Liberals undoubtedly \oted with Mr Raldwin in order to keep Labour out at all costs, and a considerable number of the younger and poorer Liberals have gone over to the Labour Party, so that, though Liberalism still has a large vote and many men of ability, the outlook is by no means good. The public are still disposed to wait and see if Mr Raldwin can do anything to make tilings better, and a good deal will depend on how he gets on during the next lew years. He is personally liked. for he is a pleasant and sincere

Will you he making a study of labour questions and industrial arbitration?’’ asked the interviewer. “Naturally I shall.” said Mr Reeves.

‘Df only in the interest of the hank T should ilo so. Of course, I have kept closely in touch with the progress of industrial legislation in New Zealand for many years. On the whole, I find that the arbitration system has been more successful and more useful than I hoped when 1 framed it. New Zealand has its industrial troubles, but they are verv small affairs eomoared with those of the Old Country, and I believe that arbitration is mainly responsible. Tn England scarcely a day passes without a serious strike, and the cost of these disputes to the whole community is terrific, simply appalling. At

the present time the country is trembling to think what may happen if the coal miners and transort workers come out next spring. Already it has cost the community £ll,ooo,ooo*to stave off trouble for a while, and when you find a Conservative Prime Minister like Mr Baldwin making a concession like that you can understand how serious the situation is. If there is a light, the community is bound to win, hut at what a cost!

“I know tlmt the Arbitration Court in New Zealand is criticised a good deal, hut that is only to he expected. It is fairly, good if an arbitrator can satisfy even one side. The side that does not get all it wants is always inclined to say that it could have got more by fighting.”

‘‘l <lu not want anyone to assume from what 1 have said about troubles in the Old Country that Britain is on her way to ruin,” said Mr Reeves. ‘‘Talk of that sort is simple foolishness. It is true that there is an enormous amount of unemployment, but unfortunately there has been a large amount of it in normal years for a long while past. There are people who will 101 l you that Britain’s foreign trade is falling oil'. The fact is that the whole of trade has decreased, hut test figures show that Britain has still the same share of it as she had before the war. She has the best finance in the world. Her hanking system is excellent and thoroughly sound, and she has considerable resources. So far as foreign trade is concerned that is bound to recover in time. 1 was on the Continent no! long ago and I found that everywhere, industry was getting on to its feet again, even in politically disturbed districts. That does not mean that the Continent will need less British goods. Sueli tilings have a habit of settling themselves. When a people develop their industries they have more money to spend and they buy more goods. Oormnny, it must he admitted, has won hack many of her old markets, hut slie is also becoming a large buyer of English manufactured goods. The Germans aro not a people that one likes very much, hut they have a groat deal of common sense and perseverance, and now. with something like a currency, they are likely to become good customers of ours.” “1 I it true that yon expert to put your impressions of Now Zealand into a book?” asked the interviewer . ‘‘l am not at all sure,” said Air Reeves, smiling. "1 must gel the impressions first.”