IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 12

IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ZEALAND.

VIEWS OF A VISITOR. (FIOM OUB OWK CORBESFONDiEHT.)

AUCKLAND, February 17. Among the arrivals by the Mokoia, from the «owth, yesterday was Mr W. C. Dawes {chairman, -of directors of the .New Zealand Shipping Company and of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company). Mr Dawes, who is visiting the Dominion on business aaid pleasure combined, arrived in New Zealand a month ago, and since then has toured the South. Island, and has visited various places on the Bast Coast of the North Island on his way up to Auckland. He intends to proceed to Rotorua shortly, and will pay a visit to the various other tourist resorts in the North Island before leaving for Home again.

To a Herald reporter last evening he gave some interesting impressions cf his visit to this country. Mr Dawes said he had been very~much struck with the country, the possibilities of which were much greater than he had been led to expect. Everywhere he went he found that an air of prosperity prevailed. One thing that had attracted his attention particularly was the extraordinary progress which had resulted from the breaking up of the large estates. For instance, large tracts of land, which had been only supporting a comparatively few people and making a small return, were, under the closer settlement policy, now supporting very many trore, with proportionate returns.

"On coming out here," continued Mr Dawes, "I expected to find what the oidinary Britisher would term a Labour Government, but so far I have been pleased with everything that I have come across. As far as one is able to judge a 6 a ■wsitor, everybody seems to be happy and contested, and the measures so far introduced seem to be generally for the good of the country. With regard to your Arbitration Act, I should like to say in passing that strikes at Home are, unfortunately, rather too frequent, and when trouble arises between Labour and Capital each party is loth to accept the services of a mediator, the consequence being that the disputes go on for lengthy periods. There is a terrible waste of money on both sides, and much ill-feeling is created. There is an agitation at Home to introduce \,he New Zealand Act, and in that respect I might say that New Zealand is far ahead of us at Home."

Have you anything to say with regard to the prospects of New Zealand produce on the Home markets?

" Well, with regard to that, I might cay they are favourable. Wool, ,of course, has been at a very remunerative price for some considerable time, £.nd when I left Home the demand for it was as keen as ever. I there-fore attribute the depression which has existed during the past month or two as entirely due to the American trouble and the anxiety in the financial world. Of course. America naturally had to cease buying when the crisis came elong, but I am hoping that when the -financial position gets stronger and money get* cheaper we shall find wool improve in value again. With regard to butter, that the demand' for that us increasing ie evidenced by the increased prices. The New Zealand butter we «et at Home is infinitely better than that made on the farms at Home. In my opinion the New Zealand farmers have a very great deal to be thankful for. The Government's action in seeing that only good butter is exported, and in having it properly graded, bas helped the butter industry considerably. We don't find our Government at Home looking- a£t«r our interests in the. some. On being asked whether he had anything to say with reference to the agitation to have a direct boat put on from LonJon to Auckland, and also to have Auckland Trade the final port of call for the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamers, seeing that the Auckland Province had & larger export trado than any other, Mr Dawee stated that if the matter was pu* before the directorate properly they would consider it favourably. "We are," he said, "only too anxious to do everything in our power fr» meet the requirements of the port. It is to pur interest to cater for the various ports to the best of our ability, and anything that will help the butter or the m«it indusfri«w we must do." In conclusion, Mr Dawes tvai'd a tribute to New Zealand ecenerv. "It must be a (surprise," he said. "to anyone to go trough the country and see its leautiful

scenery. No matter whore one travels, he cannot but be impressed with it. Take, for instance, the trip acroas Lake Waka-tip-u. There is nothing I have icen tl-at 16 more magnificent, and I am told that in the North Island some of the 3eenory is eaually as good, though of a cifferent description. Everything I have come across has been a. very agreeable surprise. The travelling on the railways is comfortable and cheap; while, with regard to tfce coastal service and that maintained by the Union Steam Ship Company, I do not know that you would find anything of the kind to touch it in the world. It pays people to come out here, and I -»nay say that they are -coming. On the Omrah, on which I came out from the Old Country, it was surprising to find the number wno were coming to New Zealand to ccc the scenery and to fish and shoot, instead of going to the South of France. The money that your Government is spending in meeting the tourists' point of view will, in. n:-y opinion, all come back."