LITTLE KNOWN ABROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 288, 5 December 1932, Page 7

LITTLE KNOWN ABROAD.

NEW ZEALAND'S STATUS.

MR. M. J. SHEAHAN'S IMPRESSIONS.

The fact that New Zealand is comparatively little known in Europe and America was commented upon this morning by Mr. M. J. Sheahan, of Auckland, who returned by the Monterey. Mr. Sheahan left Auckland in March, attended the Eucharistic Congress at Dublin in June, and returned to New Zealand by way of Canada and America.

New Zealanders, said' Mr. Sheahan, were frequently referred to' as Australians. That the Dominion was not displaying her wares to the best advantage was proved by the almost total absence abroad of knowledge of the country'* existence. He suggested that the tilne was opportune for an "Exulting New Zealand" campaign on a large scale.

The most intensely cultivated country visited by Mr. Sheahan was Italy. He was told that during Mussolini's administration the population had increased by 1,000,000. The cultivation of England's rural districts was commendable, but much more was desirable. In Ireland agriculture was neglected, cattle raising finding most favour. At the present time, however, the latter industry was suffering tremendously on account of warring tariffre, which, 01 both sides, revealed a bankruptcy of statesmanship. "In Belfast," said Mr. Sheahan, "we had the novel experience of living under Curfew. Everyone bad to be inside doors at half past ten."

The Aucklander was in Chicago'on the date of the Presidential and State elections. "The big city was so quiet and orderly that you would never have thought that so important an election was taking place," he said. "The Democratic programme was exactly as that nut forward in 102 S. but there was a different nominee for the Presidency. Therein lay all the difference."