OUR NEAREST KIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 September 1938, Page 6

OUR NEAREST KIN

RELATIONS WITH AUSTRALIA ADDRESS BY SIR E. PAGE CANNOT HAVE TOO MANY CONTACTS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Speaking at the State luncheon at which he was entertained in Wellington yesterday, Sir Earle Page, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister of Commerce, said he was convinced Australia and New Zealand could not have too many contacts, not only of an official nature, but of a personal character as well. One half-hour of face-to-face conversation was better than years of correspondence. Australia and New Zealand, said Sir Earle, had both benefited from the recent improvements in the communications between the two countries. The two countries had welcomed the improvement in the inter-colonial shipping services. The wireless telephonic service had made it possible for Ministers and others in the Dominion and in the Commonwealth to talk with one another instead of negotiating by correspondence. The Empire air mail scheme would soon be extended to New Zealand, and this would bring both countries very close together indeed. Australia as a whole was interested in Nevz Zealand, for the Dominion was much closer to Canberra than some of the more distant States were to the capital city. The destiny of the two countries was a common destiny, and the two far-flung outposts of British ideals in the Pacific should pull together. Population and Defence. To have adequate defence, Sir Earle continued, it was necessary to have adequate populations in the two countries. Population ultimately became a question of reproductive markets, both external and internal. That was impossible without co-operation and effective marketing systems. Even the potato problem was the result of unregulated and unco-ordinated production. The fact was that each country grew more potatoes than it could consume, and reproductive markets had not been found for the surplus. Need for Economic Planning. It was obvious that without planning in the development of both primary and secondary industries they were going to have over a wide economic field a series of problems similar to the potato one. Their products were similar and complementary, and it was becoming quite obvious that they must collaborate in the organisation of their marketing systems to ensure the best results for both of them in the markets of the world.

“It is obvious that primary and secondary industries in both countries are going to have a better chance if they are going to have opportunities in the whole market rather than in portion of it,” said Sir Earle Page. “There is no doubt that New Zealand has huge opportunities of developing water power, and already magnificent use is being made of it. New Zealand should be an ideal home for electro-chemical industries, which should be able to supply the New Zealand population with the basic materials for manufacture and other goods for which we are specially adapted. Scope for Co-operation. “Australia’s position In relation to New Zealand is rapidly becoming somewhat similar to the relationships between Australia and Britain in this matter, and one of the most striking results of the recent discussions which took place between Australian and British Ministers in London was the frank recognition of this necessity to plan industrial development of both countries in order to ensure that the maximum value for both should be obtained from existing assets, and that the lines of development should not be unnecessarily conflicting. In fact, it was felt that such a policy was most likely to ensure the rapid development of Australian secondary industries and increase in population. “In proceeding along these lines we are both most likely to develop population and industries and make the Empire sufficiently strong and wellbalanced to guarantee the peace of the world. World peace must be the essential basis on which the restoration of international trade can be built.

“Everything is to be gained by the fullest possible co-operation between Australia and New Zealand in consultation and collaboration in the development and selection of industries, both primary and secondary.”