A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1930, Page 2

A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR

LORD BARNBY IN N.Z.

INTER-1 MPERIAL TRADE QUESTIONS.

WELLINGTON, November 17

With the intention of spending a month in the Dominion Lord Bnrnby arrived in Wellington by the Maunganui to-day. He is a distinguished figure in finance.and industry in England and is principal of the firm of Francis Wiley and Co., Bradford and Boston. While in New Zealand, which he confesses he has looked fornaid keenly to visiting, lie will -study Dominion conditions in those spheres which his wide interests include. He is at present a guest at Government House.

Lord Bnrnby is a director of Lloyd’s Bank, with which the National Bank of New Zealand is affiliated, and a director of. the Commercial Union Assurance Company. He is a member too, of the Central Electricity Board whih controls the supply off electricity throughout Eng 1 and. He is a past, president of the Federat'on of British Industries. Lord Barliby, is chairman of the Central Employers’ Orgiiisation for wool ancV textiles and is chairman of the Wool Industries Research Association, to which New Zealand and all the dominions contribute. He is one of tlie four British representatives to the. Advisory Committee of the Economic Council of the League of atioiis at Geneva.

From the outbreak of the war he served with the Sherwood Rangers' in Egypt, Gallipoli and Macedona and was mentioned in dispatches. He was recalled, to organise the War Office wooQpurchases and was Controller, of Woof Supp’ies from 1913 to 1911 b directing the purchase ot British-Aus-vralian, New Zealand and South African wool clips. He is a member of the Development Conned of the Department of Overseas Trade. CONNECTION WITH DOMINION “As principal off the firm of Irancis Wiley and Company, who are large buyers of New Zealand wool, I have naturally been long connected with the Dominion,” said Lord Barnby. “The local firm is at -Christchurch. With iUr Frank Clark, the principal, I shall be visiting the South Island shortly.”

Lord Barnby preferred to postpone the discussion of the wool industry and wool researh in England as wed as the subject of Empire trade until later on in his visit.

Lord Barnby said that lie was qlosely in touch with New Zealand matters when Sir Thomas Mackenz e was High Commissioner. He is one of the executive committee of the Empire -Economic Union, of which Lord Melchett is chairman, working at economic research to exam ne the practical lines along which inter-In-periul trade can be scientifically developed,

. “It is too soon for me to say anything regarding inter-imperial trade,” said Lord Barnby, “but I shall be addressing various commercial and other bodies while I am in New Zealand.”

Lord Barnby will leave New Zealand on December 16 by the Aorangi.