STRENUOUS TOUR

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21197, 21 August 1940, Page 8

STRENUOUS TOUR

AMERICAN JOURNALISTS ' VISIT TO AUSTRALIA TALKS AVITH MINISTER (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 21, 3.15 p.m.) CANBERRA, August 21 The visiting American journalists yesterday morning flew from Sydney to the Federal capital for breakfast with the Governor-General, Lord Gowrie. Later they met members of the Federal Cabinet and representatives of the press gallery at morning tea, and then spent half-an-hour with the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Curtin. They next had an hour’s conference with the Prime Minister, who gave them a thorough conception of the Government’s view of Australia’s position in the general picture of Pacific strategy. Mr Roy Howard plied a series of questions about post-war possibilities of wide trade agreements between the English-speaking nations, suggesting a customs union between Australia and New Zealand as a possible starting point. Mr Menzies disclosed the difficulties which had prevented this action in the past, citing the political influence of the Australian potatogrowers against New Zealand importations of potatoes, and said it was a question of balancing Australia’s desires against practical politicis. But as a result of the close war collaboration he could foresee a possible closer customs arrangement in the future. MELBOURNE, August 21 The United States journalists arrived by air from Canberra at 5 p.m. yesterday. They were met by State Ministers and officials, but there were no engagements last night. Today they will visit an Australian military camp, and later will see a typical Victorian sheep station. On Thursday they will fly to Brisbane direct. They are showing signs of exhaustion from their strenuous tour.

When told yesterday that they were to inspect a sheep station, one exclaimed: “A sheep station? All we want to see is a sleep station!”