SIR JOSEPH WARD IN LONDON

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 326, 13 June 1911, Page 7

SIR JOSEPH WARD IN LONDON

ALOXG THE ALL-RED ROUTE. PRIME MINISTER'S IMPRESSIONS. (Wellington Times' Correspondent). London, April 28. Shortly after his arrival Sir Joseph Ward granted me an interview, in the course of which he gave me an account of his trip to London by the AH-Red route, and of his doings in Canada ana New York. "The trip across the Pacific in the Makura," said the Premier, "was an interesting and a pleasant one. Prom Fiji onwards the steamer was run at her best, and the time taken was a record for speed. There was a full passenger list, aud those aboard had only one opinion to express about the steamer, and that was of the most favorable nature. So we had the benefit of the shortest passage on record across the Pacifjc, and naturally that tended to make me even more well disposed to the route than I have always been. It went to show what could be done in the way of shortening the distance between New Zealand and England. At tire rate the Makura covered the distance to Vancouver, it would mean reaching London in from twenty-seven to twenty-eight days from New Zealand under existing conditions.

"Both at Victoria and at Vancouver, and especially at the latter place, I was greatly struck by the extraordinary progress that had taken place during the short time between this and mj former visit less than two years before. I visited places which have been transformed in the interval from waste land into a great suburb with many hundreds of houses of the best kind, in brick; and stone, and streets, footpaths, sanitation, parks and reserves .provided for the people. It is almost like a fairy tale to hear from authoritative people what an amount of money has been expended both by private individuals and by municipal authorities to provide (for the ever-increasing (population of Vancouver. | VANCOUVER'S LAND BOOM. i "The great Canadian-Pacific Railway j proprietary have been probably the greatest factor in bringing about this change. They have cut up and disposed of large areas of their land, and made it a condition that no reduction in area of which residences were to be built could be effected by the owner. They advanced the greater portion 01 the money for the building of the homes and the effect of the system laid down by'them is that the houses, at least in one of the new suburbs, arc all erected" in half-acre blocks. The result is that they ihavc created what is usually called the "West End" in the larger cities <sf the world, and the transfer of numbers of people from other parts has been effected as the outcome of their policy. !

"There is little doubt in my mind that Vancouver itself has been passing through a vigorous land and building boom for some time past. Some of the operations have meant a degree of success to those interested that would be alniost unbelievable if the facts were not weir authenticated. So one was not at all surprised to meet scores of people who during the last few years had accumulated considerable fortunes.

"Naturally, the question arises as to whether this is likely to be maintained. I put this question to a number of leading people in Vancouver,' and the in-" variable answer was that the influx ofpermanent residents to Vancouver was so.great that although every effort was being made to accommodate them, the pate could not be fast enough to enable this to be done. "This may be judged from (he fact that at present it is estimated that 40,000 new citizens are arriving in twelve months. What was a comparatively small place when I passed through it in 18!)5—sixteen years ago—has to-day a population of 150,000* And the greater proportion of that advance has taken place during the last five or six years. "Vancouver, in my opinion, is destined to be one of the greatest seaports of the West. It is well situated, and is developing a large trade to the East aswell as to practically every part of the world.

"I liad been requested by cable to address the Canadian Club thsre, and also to deliver a speech to the women of Vancouver, but I had to decline both invitation;), as the time at my disposal did not admit of my extending my stay in Vancouver. Early on the day following our arrival we left by the C'.P.R. route for Montreal. A WONDERFUL COUNTRY.

"The average New Zealander could scarcely realise without seeing it ■what the snow is like on the route through the Rockies and the Selkirks and the Manitoba Plains at the lime of year that we went through. The whole territory up to within twenty miles ot Winnipeg was covered with snow, as far as I could see. The contrast between New Zealand and Canada in that respect was most marked. It shows what a wonderful country Canada is when you realise that for about five months of the year outdoor operations practirally cease, that is, so far as cultivating or using the land is concerned: and yet 350,000 fresh people migrated to Canada from England, the Continent, and the United States last. year. And this feature of its development is one that has been promoted' as a matter of policy by the Government of the country in order to fill up the huge territories that are lying to a very large extent idle. When one considers that Canada is 110,000 square miles greater than the United States, it will be realised how small her present population of eight or nine millions is compared with the capacity of the country. "Some idea of the position as between Canada and England may be gleaned from the fact that in Canada there arc 11/.,I 1 /., people to the mile and in England f>6o. while in the United States the number is 4fi'/o. So you will see that the great work of development and settle-, ment in Canada must still fake years to accomplish. In the meantime, there is one note struck bv the Canadians wherever you go in their country—that of satisfaction with the growth and progress of Canada and the prosperous condition that undoubtedly exists at least wherever T went. SPEECHES EN ROUTE.

'"'AI, Winnipeg in response to an invitation T addressed a gathering of the Canadian Club, and passed on to Toronto, and from thorn to Niagara, whore fl'c spoilt a Sunday, leaving the same night for Ottawa. Thpro T addressed another mooting 0 f the Canadian Club, Sit which the pove.rnoiUiomeral, tlio Prime Minister and other Ministers, the loader of tho Opposition, and a number of members of Parliament wore present. On the morning of the third day at Ottawa we loft for Now York.

"I avoided public sneaking in Now York. Two important lunohoojiK were given for me there by leading merchants, but tlicv were of' a private nature, though f snoke on both occasions as | n Ihe crnwth and development of Now Zealand.

"The men whom T met wore ail verv interested, in the nossfbilitv of dome trade, with New Zealand. T referred to the fact that «s a matter of policy we lad given a preference to British imparls, and al«o called their attention to

j the f.ict Unit the tariff of the United/ States made it difficult for New Zea-\ | landers to do business with that country. I stated that on some of the products of our country, such as wool aim dairy produce, there was room for irade developments on fair and equitable lines, if the United States were willing ! to meet us in a fair way. "I committed myself to nothing, expressing the opinion that it was worthy of consideration in both countries. I pointed out that on the West Coast market it was cheaper for their consumers to have butter, cheese and certain kinds of frozen meat from New Zealand than for the consumers to have to pay the charges of the long railway journey from the East to supply their market j Generally speaking, that was recognised by the people to whom I spoke. The steamer freightage on goods from New Zealand was lower than the cost of the rail charges from the East, through the Selkirks and Rockies. Our own train journey in America was about 0000 miles, which will give you an idea of the distances goods have to be railed. • "I pointed out wherever I went the prospects of trade development and said that New Zealand was anxious to have fresh markets for her large and increas-, ing output of natural products. I think; there is a prospect of a certain amount of our meat getting into both Canada and the United States, if we had proper facilities for doing it. j A LECTURE ABOARD SHIP. | "On the voyage to England in th« Lusitania I was invited to address the passengers on New Zealand, and did so. ■ it will give some idea of the acconimo-, dation on the Lusitania when I say that upwards of 500 people formed the audi- j ence. I spoke for an hour and gave, them a general outline of New Zealand,! both as to its natural advantages and its productiveness. I called their attention to the fact that in the opinion of some modern scientists distinctive characteristics of a few of the plants indigenous to New Zealand are to be found only in South America, while some scientists believe that ages ago there was some connection between New Zealand and South America. I put it that the remarkable coincidence referred to was one for them to try to solve, as I certainly could not. I "I also told them of the remarkable ■ fish I'elorus Jack, and of his visits to' steamers passing to and from Nelson. It interested them greatly. The scepticism regarding the fish in the minds of some of the passengers maybe gauged by the fact that I was personally interviewed by a number of them afterwards to ascertain whether I was jeking or telling them a fairy tale. I am very sorry to learn from the press today that Pelorus Jack is dead, and 1 hope the report will prove to be incorrect. . The depest interest was taken in this fish by travellers, and there was a charm and attractiveness about his doings which appealed to people who had never visited New Zealand. It is surprising how many have declared that they would go there for the express purpose of seeing Pelorus Jack. On the Lusitania I also gave them the story of Tutanckai and Hinemoa, and the passengers were very much interested in it. One of tf>e principal citizens of the United States who was aboard the steamer afterwards told me that he would visit New Zealand next year. He was candid enough to say that he had not known much about it until after I had spoken, but he pro, posed to visit it for the double purpose of investing money if he could find suitable opening, and also of seeing the country. "We had a very pleasant trip across, and got there all well. Lady Ward and| Mrs. Findlay are suffering from colds I caught a day or so before their arrival and are confined to their rooms, but they hope to he nil right in a fcw| days." I