BRITISH M.P. IN WELLINGTON.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3414, 19 February 1920, Page 7

BRITISH M.P. IN WELLINGTON.

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW’. VVITH MR EDGAR HORNE, M.P. Mr Edgar Horne, Member of ‘the British House of Commons, inter alia, in an interview by it New Zealand Times reporter.—— ‘ “My own feeling regarding the CO- - Government,” said Mr Horne, “is that we must not have party politics, or differences in ‘the Government. This is not a. time for party politicsf it is the time for the introduction of reconstructional methods. The CO- - are, however, main‘taining their position—l agree with Mr Balfour that it is -.1 necessity‘ to have a Coalition Government.

“I am out here in order to gain)’ .a personal knowledge of your fine country. its people, and to express my admiration on behalf of the British Government for the patriotism and the magnificent ‘performances in the various theatres of war of our countrymen over here in New Zealand. “Although I am not out here on a special mission,-” Mr Horne continued, “I was asked by the Board of Overseas Trade, the Colonial Office, and the Foreign Office, to infornT't‘hem on certain points, observed thy me in New Zealand. One great feeling that we all have in Great Britain is that we don’t want you to think that our greatness as all Empire has gone by, because the war is over.

' “I want to learn what the prospects of imnligra.tion are in New Zealand; whether you want more Englishmen, or more capital, also as to what "Chances there are of stable government. “An Empire such as ours,” continw ued Mr Horne, “is not brought together by oppression, or by purchase —it can only be accomplished by sac~ rifice. The New Zealand soldier did not fight for ‘New Zealand, England, or for himself. He fought for clean living, for freedom, and for the future of the Empire.”

When asked for his opinion of the British industries and the after-war effects, Mr Horne said that prior to the War England was a very rich nation. “England during the war incurred great monetary obligations in foreign countries which would have to ge paid for by goods. On the other hand the Englishman is a steady, sensible man, who is gradually coming to see that the after-war conditions demand special consideration. Without any waste, the whole of the money raised on ’fiio‘i‘tga.ge in England was used to equip the many factories with up-to-date machinery. A large number of fresh workers were instructed in skilled work, and the result is that there are more factories now than before the war. These skilled workers also learnt the fine arts and the economic processes of production. Recoiisti-iict-ional work must take

(time. and is no doubt seriously hanidicapped by the want of shipping. but "this is a matter which is ciearing it--Iself every day. 1- “Wealth must be divided into two |,pal~ts,” said Mr Horne, “and in my !opinion they are static and dynamic. 'S’r.:ltic wealth is what you possess of ;y a kind, but dynamic wealth is. I)c—"'fi'ng’ ‘created every day. Static Wealth is {therefore no use unless combined with [dynamic wealth. Dynamic’ wealth and ,its possibilities can only be realised,

can only be obtained, by an effective amalgamation with the energy to produce it. This done, we should then have no trouble in paying our .hng'er, 'debts if we accept that position, I “Yes, I am interested in the rate of exchange question,” Mr -Horne remarked to a question of the Times ’l'(\pol't(‘l', “Tho United States (loll{ll‘ ‘has an enormous value, and with the pound sterling we are only able to buy a few of them. It means that all the foreign countries cannot avoid doing business with the United States and yet to go to live in an expensive "item. England cannot. invest in America with profit and the Americans are therefore taking the money abroad. The exchange problem will level itself in time, and in the meantime is 311 advantage to England.” “I think,” Mr Horne went on to say, “Wat if there was any violent. political move to arbitrarily alter the rate of ex-c},,mg-C g'l'oaf' hardship would result, and serious consequences follow. The ';uljustment must be left *0 llamlal m'e'.hod.<. In time the economic. conditions will become normnl—~the_V will arrange themselves, and the Dl'€S9ll's alarming anomalies will be removed.”