AN AMERICAN VIEW

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21334, 29 November 1934, Page 17

AN AMERICAN VIEW

: — —« i j EDUCATION IN NEW i ZEALAND ; j • DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THUJ DOMINION | i .\n American school teacher who j '•5 that he visited New Zealand last j *lmer has « iviMl his compatriots ' 'ther a gloomy impression of the Dominion. In an address in his own ly giving his views of schools m « e w Zealand, he said: "I visited several public schools there, and found j he methods used were about, the i Zae as were used when I was a hnv There was lit!'- teaching equipment and the children were greatly suppressed _in spirit, both in school 'V"teacher is Mi Towusend Show•11 of Ocean City High School, and his remarks were made m an address . a Rotary club. They were reported in the "Atlantic City Press" on September 17. He said that New Zeahnd was not up to the standard it ' aS supposed to have of being one of the most progressive "islands" in the I world in all ways. The newspaper report continued: "He said the country wis hard hit by the high United States tariff in mutton, butter, and beef, its principal products, but the New Zealand Government retaliated by a high tariff on American automobiles. Although there was a heavy fall of snow while he was there in the middle of summer, the hotel at which he stayed had no heating system, except a tireplace, he said. An attempt was made ;o comfort guests by serving tea at G a.m. - "One of his most vivid experiences was having to sign a document pledging allegiance to the King of England before he was permitted to land in New Zealand. Although he said he 'balked' at first, his tourist curiosity overcame the objection." The report of this address was forwarded to "The Press" by a New Zcalander living in Atlantic City, who in a letter made the following comment: "From the enclosed 'gem' it will be evident that even a school teacher can remain unaware of the reversal of the seasons as between the north and the south hemispheres. The rest of the diatribe will probably be found to be based on the same level of intelligence. A quite justifiable pride in the land of my birth, and in your beautiful city in particular, ; prompts the sending of this queer effu- ! sion. if for nothing more than to be I regarded as a typographical curio, ity." i