NEW ZEALAND'S POSSIBILITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 306, 22 June 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALAND'S POSSIBILITIES.

WHAT THE PANAMA CANAL MEANS. Mr. H. S. Worth, an American business man, who is at present in Wanganui, said he was much impressed with New Zealand's great possibilities in the matter of trade and commerce with America and Europe, especially when the Panama Canal is opened. In conversation with a representative of the Herald, Mr. Worth said that his attention had been attracted to the Dominion and its trade possibilities by the rapid progress which was being mad'e with the Panama Canal. Numbers of people in the United States, he said, were looking towards Australasia in anticipation of the time when the canal should be opened. His fellow passengers on the Marama, included at least ten men, all with capital or representing capital, who were coming in search of openings for trade or investment. It was generally considered that American exporters had only scratched the surface so fas as Australasia was the surface so far as Australasia was were numbers of Americans who wanted to take up land and settle here. He instanced one acquaintance, who was possessed of plenty of capital, and wanted to start farming on a large scale in New Zealand. This man had studied the land laws of the Dominion, and was more than pleased with the opportunities which the country offered. "Canada," said Mr. Worth, "is taking thousands of our farmers every year. And how? Through publicity. It is true that a good many of them come back again; the long winter is too much for them. In this country you have no such winter, and if these people only knew of the possibilities here they would flock over. I was much interested in New Zealand when I saw how close, the Panama Canal wouldl bring it, and I did all I could to get information about it. I went to the British Consul in New York, but he could tell me practically nothing, and all the literature he had was one small booklet, which was little more than useless, so I had to pick up information haphazard and as best I could. Even then I learned enough to bring me here." Mr. Worth is confident that when the Panama Canal is opened much more attention will be devoted to New Zealand*. The canal will greatly reduce the distance between this Dominion and the Old Land, and New Zealand is much nearer the States than Australia, and should have a big advantage in that respect. New Zealand must be better advertised, added the astute American, if she desires to gain and maintain a leading position in the markets of the world. Mr. Worth had much to say concerning business methods, of which he is unquestionably one of the best exponents It has been our privilege to meet. His methods are nothing if not up-toAie—-of the real American the cultivation of. an him would undAibtedlyjflj^^^^^HH "':. ic! M:..