MUCH QUOTED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8344, 3 February 1913, Page 8

MUCH QUOTED

EXAMPLE OF NEW ZEALAND AN AMERICAN VIEW. IMPRESSIONS OF A DETROIT MANUFACTURER. An interesting visiter to the Dominion at present is Mr Raphael Herman, president of a large machinemanufacturing and power company at Detroit, Micnigan, U.S.A. , This corporation, which has branches at Windsor (Canada) and London, employs a large number of workmen, with whom, the president was happy to state, industrial trouble has hitherto been unknown. Mr Herman is a widelytravelled man, and a keen student of political institutions and forms of government. To use his own expression, he is “German by birth, American by adoption, and English by inclination,” and an accent from the Fatherland accompanied a slight hesitancy with English idioms. He has oome to study the New Zealand democracy and current problems, after spending a time in Australia, and he stated that he was very much impressed with the form of government in New Zealand, particularly at the present time, when the example of this Dominion was so much quoted in the. United States. It was there acknowledged to bo an advanced country, progressive in legislation in all those measures which aim at protection of the masses, and social justice. “There is no other country that has been so much quoted in legislation as New Zealand. A handful of people have given to millions lessons in the protection of the masses from the greed of the classes.” LABOUR ORGANISATIONS.

“I also looked into the subject of your labour organisations, and the conclusion I reached—rightly or wrongly 1 cannot say—was that the reason .why your labour aims have the endorsement of those w'ho are not in the rank and file of labour is that those aims commend themselves on account of their reasonableness, and do not succeed by mere force of organisation. To secure any basis for progress, you require to eliminate the arrogance both of employers and of certain types of labour leaders. “1 believe you are emerging from the experimental stages to a higher standard of excellence, after having been for some time the political and economic research society for the whole world. Much is heard about the socialistic tendencies of the people in Australia and New Zealand, but I find that the people as a whole do not put any stumbling blocks in the way of individualism. They allow for individual development, in so far as that is consistent with the public welfare; in other words, I think Now Zealanders and Australians believe in individualism, but it must be curbed so as not to transgress the rights of others. BRITISH UNITY. Speaking of the unity of the British Empire, whose diversities of peoples, tongues and religion under one control so greatly astonished _ the outside world, Mr Herman attributed this remarkable result to the lesson England had received from the rebellious American colonies. That England had profited by that lesson was shown in the fact that subsequent colonies were allowed and encouraged to develop their own distinctive individualities, so long as compatible with the interests of the Empire as a whole. The United States, on the other hand, tried to stamp and mould into her own likeness on every land she acquired; that was the reason why America has not the same colonising power as England. Ample self-go-vernment was allowed even in the component provinces of constituent portions of the Empire. Whereas the Federal Government of the United States imposed its will and conferred powers and privileges on the different Slates, Canadian provinces enjoyed a reverse method. Powers and privileges were not derived from, but rather conferred upon, the Federal Government, and the provinces enjoyed a greater measure of independence. LAND MONOPOLY. “One thing that surprises mo in New Zealand is that you are not further ahead with settlement and population, the country being so well endowed and such a paradise for workers. Personally, I .believe the land is owned and controlled too much by tho wealthy classes, and ought to be broken up into smaller holdings, in order to give New Zealand what it needs. The land should be redeemed from its present shackles, and given back to the people. England is going through the same experience, and Denmark affords a striking illustration of the value of subdivision. About fifty years ago, a heavy progressive tax was placed on big landowners, who owned most of tho country. The people were backward and poor. To-day, Denmark is the

finest country in the world; science, literature, and popular education have flourished; the country is far more productive, and full of happy homes, making for a liner manhood and womanuood. Some such system appears to bo necessary in New Zealand.” PROBLEMS OF; DEFENCE. Unqualified approval of the compulsory military training scheme was expressed ; not only was the training valuable to the country, but it disciplined the youth; it was helpful in directing his undeveloped energies in the channels that tended to good citizenship. “My desire is to sec much closer relations between this country and the United States, and while wo can profit greatly from New Zealand in certain directions. New Zealand can profit in others.” “ What is the general opinion in the United States regarding naval defence of the Pacific P” “ We as a people are not so much interested in defence of the Pacific, but wo are building two battleships each year, on the theory that in time of peace you should prepare for war. We have a large number of people opposed to war on general principles, and 1 personally do not believe in it, although, of course, war will only bo eradicated at the approach of a golden age and the millennium. The particular .value I attribute to your defence system is tbe discipline of the youth, and the provision of a happy outlet for his strength and force in those duties the State has imposed on him. “ With regard to naval defence, my opinion as a layman is that New Zealand cannot stand alone, and that if she is attacked, there is no way of repelling that attack unless she has the support of another country. For that reason, I believe it is to the interest of Now Zealand to co-operato with the Mother Country for its own benefit and external defence. This co-operation might take the form of a money contribution or the presentation of ships as finances allowed. As a general proposition, I am opposed to navy building, but that policy can only bo abandoned when there is concerted action by all the Powers. DESIGNS ON NEW ZEALAND. “ I do not think Germany has anj designs on New Zealand, nor on Australia, though some people fondly imagine it. Japan, to my mind, being an island nation and overburdened with debts from past wars, has not the strength and money to undertake any kind of war for decades. Real statesmanship, of course, looks hundreds of years ahead, and even Australia and New Zealand united could not withstand the attack of Japan. These Dominions would need to co-operate with the Motherland in time of danger; and being already progressive and advanced, they should 00-operate in every way, so as to got as much benefit as possible at small expense from the Mother Country. Moreover, this cooperation would cost less than building a local navy; and New Zealand would have the great prestige of England behind her.”

Mr Herman, who speaks highly of tho hospitality of New Zealanders ho has met, is accompanied on his tour by Mr Milton Mcßae, the veteran newspaper proprietor, of the Scripps Mcßae League of newspapers, and formerly president of the United Press. The two travellers will leave Auckland for Vancouver by the Zealandia on February 14th.