AN INTERVIEW

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1930, Page 6

AN INTERVIEW

CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND. TARIFF REFORM. : ■ “There is an undoubted feeling in England for some change in tariff reform,” said Mr A. 'McNicol, of Dannevirke, a -member of the New Zealand delegation to the Empire Press Conference, who returned to New Zealand by the Maunganui. Mr McNicol mentioned that lie had. spoken in England to Sir James Parr, who was in Die forefront of the Beaverbrook campaign, and had been assured (that there was a big industrial swing toward a policy for the protection of British manufactures.

This, said Mr McNicol, seemed to have been borne out, for-instance, by recent by-elections in industrial division in Glasgow which had been overwhelmingly in favour of the Labour candidate 011 previous occasions, but this time the “Empire Crusader’,.’ had come within an ace of winning. A majority of 6000 in favour of Labour' had dwindled to 400;' It was typical,:, said Mr McNicol, of a growing .'terp-f ency. Tariff .reform a s advocated int the Beaverbrook campaign would probably come about, whether Lord. Beaverbrook was leading it or- anyone"' else. “As far as the dole and such things are concerned,’’(said- Mi' - ,McNicol,•“l-.dd’ not feel inclined to express' ahj' opiiU' ion. I am reluctant to comment on the trend of British ,■■■ domestic affairs—mainly because : T do not feel that New Zealand has made such; a howling success of its political control of economic affairs.” NEW ZEALAND IN HIGH ESTEEM. There was on e thing, however, that the Press delegation had found, said Mr McNicol, and it was an extremely pleasant thing to find. He referred to the fact that English people, and. indeed the Canadians, Americans, and Continental nations, held New Zealand in high esteem.

The most inspiring thing that they had met with in English social conditions wa s t-h e educational work that was being carried out- at Liverpool. There were being erected there three magnificent open-air schools that were designed to incorporate the best features of similar schools which had been built on the Continent. These schools would be a- credit to any part of the Empire.'.said Mr McNicol, most pleasant thing ckbout them'ftVM the appearance.of thq children that,had been assembler!' from the slum quarters; They were healthy and would compare favourably with New Zealand children. The authorities told'#. Mr Mcsijpol that since the introduction of -these «ehools the mothers had taken a pride in turning out their children. The originators of the movemnt had had to . fight down public ..opinion in order to net them established. Plenty of similar schools were in Operation in ■ithOr parts 'of Ehftland, and -the ten chore seemed to be splendidly fitted fo-r their work. PRESS CONFERENCE. V The main result of the P vr ' ence would be.a better understanding of improved methods of communication, particularly beam wireless,’ said Mr McNicol. Twelve delegates had been present from New Zealand, and there was no doubt that the conference had been an admirable opportunity for the interchange of ideas, between newspaper interests in the Empire. The New Zealand nartv had been verv ablv led by Mr R. J. Gilmour.

of Invercargill, to whom Air McNicol paid a tribute for his work.