WARM WELCOME

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 212, 7 August 1937, Page 10

WARM WELCOME

TASMANIAN CABINET MINISTERS, PRAISE EOR NEW ZEALAND. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Aug. 6. A warm welcome to the Premier of Tasmania (Hon. A. G. Ogilvie) K.G., and his Minister of Health (Hon. Dr. J. F. Gaha) was offered on behalf of the Government by the Minister of Education and Health (Hon. P. Fraser) who had made a special trip to Auckland for the purpose. The two visitors and the officials accompanying them were taken for a drive in the morning to beauty spots in the suburbs, and inspected the Orakei housing development. They were then entertained at a luncheon, and were given an opportunity of meeting nearly all the Auckland members of both Houses of Parliament. In proposing the health of the guests, Mr Fraser congratulated Mr Ogilvie on the increased strength won by the Labour Government of Tasmania. in the recent genera] election, and assured Dr. Gaha that as Minister of Health he was much interested in the farseeing policy of developmental work that was being carried on in Tasmania in connection with hospitals and health services.

New Zealand’s recent social legislation, Mr Fraser added, was already beginning to show results, and ho hoped the visitors would come to the Dominion again and see it in fuller operation. Mr Ogilvie, in acknowledging the toast, said that the courage, vision and capacity of the New Zealand Government, especially in its efforts to benefit the primary industry, were much admired in Australia, and the Tasmanian Labour Party in particular was watching developments with great interest. He was sure the Government was actuated by a sincere desire for the happiness and prosperity of New Zealand.

Praise for the New Zealand Government's utilisation of credit was given by Mr Ogilvie. He also expressed' complete confidence in New Zealand’s attractiveness on the English money market and said the colour of the Government’s political coat carried no weight at all with investors. ‘‘The utilisation of credit in New Zealand appeals to me as being most courageous and wise, if I may say so, and similar steps should be taken in Australia. In fact they will have to be taken because Australia must develop its defences. It must have such things as submarines and aeroplanes and a Commonwealth utilisation of credit policy would enable these things to be purchased,” said Mr Ogilvie. During his visit to Great Britain he had found that a very favourable attitude existed to New Zealand and Australian financial positions and extremely congratulatory things were said about them. Appreciation had been expressed quite generally of the manner in wljich New Zealand and Australia had taken hold of the depression. Politics did not enter into the minds of investors. The only thing they were concerned about was pounds, shillings and pence, and they would put their money where they could get the greatest. rate of interest. They were not frightened of Labour Governments and, indeed, in England itself, the distinction between the present Conservative Government and the possible Labour Government struck him as being the difference between Tweedledum and Tweedledee. He thought that if the Labour Government of the past had found £10.000.000 for slum clearance there would have at once been a general cry of Socialism and Communism, and yet MV Chamberlain <=> Government had been able quite easily to effect something which had the flavour of a Labour Government rather than of a Conservative one.