NEW ZEALAND PRAISED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1928, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND PRAISED.

COMPARED WITH AMERICA,

UNSURPASSED SCENIC EFFECTS

OPINIONS OF A TRAVELLER. _

"Down at El Paso, on the border* line between the United States ' and Mexico, you have prohibition on one side, and drinking dens on the other. There, too. you will see the gambling saloons which have been in existence since the early 'sixties. It gives on * bit of a thrill,"' said Mr. P. Rylance, an ex-Aucklander, and now a colliery proprietor in Queensland, who is a through passenger to Sydney by the Aorangi. He and Mrs. Rylance have just returned from an extensive tour of the Lnited States and Canada. Mr. Rylance was born in New Zealand, and left here in 1901 to seek his fortunes in Australio.

_ "Down <n tlie Southern States," con* tinued the traveller, 'T was very much struck with the intense cultivation which was going on. As far as I could see, negroes do all the work, but the country is not a patch 011 New Zealand or Australia for that matter.

'"No matter where we went, ther® was no place to compare with New Zealand as far as scenery is concerned," he went on. '"We over here can beat anything over there out of sight. Their propaganda work is wonderful, however, and that is where they get the pull. We went right throughout Canada, and our scenery here is just as good, if not better. They make a great son? about their Rocky Mountains, but there are better views at National Park and down in the South Island. Then there is the Yosemite Valley. Well, it's good, but there apain there is just as good scenery in New Zealand, and also in Australia." ,

When told that the Xew Zealand Government Publicity Department was doing good work in'regard to attracting overseas tourists, Mr. Rylance said that was just the thing 'that was wanted. There were hundreds of people in America and Canada who had done all the sights in their own lands, and were looking for elsewhere to go, but not too far away. -And they arc pood spenders, too. " lie added.

Whilst in San Francisco MY. Rylance was much interested in the new stop and go automatic signals at street intersections. These are electrically operated, and cut out all human element. "Why we haven't cot them in our cities in Australia and New Zea- r land is a wonder to me." he said. "Tliey are quite simple, and mo-t advantageous. I would advise the local authorities to put thein in as soon as pos« sible."