THIS "EARTHLY PARADISE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 102, 2 May 1935, Page 6

THIS "EARTHLY PARADISE."

One diif not have to wait for Lord Bledisloe's glowing tribute to New Zealand that appeared in our news yesterday to be sure that our late Governor-General will be very useful to us in Britain. With his unsurpassed knowledge of our conditions and his enthusiasm, he will be a valuable publicity ngen t_ a sort of unofficial High Commissioner —in the Old Country. The only difficulty on* can foresee is our task in living up to his praise. No country could quite justify by excellence in every department of life all the nice things Lord Bledisloe says of ns. This is an "earthly paradise"; our scenery is lovely; our climate incomparable; our soil fertile; our sport excellent; and we are "Nature's gentlefolk," with a standard of education, refinement, culture and hospitality as high as any in the world. A visitor to New Zealand, having read such a tribute, may expect too much, and may not make due allowance for the fact that Lord Bledisloe was speaking generally. It njay rain when the visitor reaches Auckland; some cross-grained person may be short with him the day he arrives; lie may have trouble in getting a meal at an irrcguiar hour; the trout may not bite; and Egmont or Cook may be swathed in clouds. Lord Bledisloe, one feels sure enough, has a keen eye for our shortcomings—some of which are indicated in the article above —but he t'eels that our virtues outweigh them, and in recommending this as a place in which "to I bring up a healthy and happy family," he naturally paints the bright side of the picture. His praise should make us, not conceited, but humble, and determined to des srve what he

says-pf us.