WESTERN AMERICA TO-DAY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 6

WESTERN AMERICA TO-DAY

FILMS BEST MEDIUM OF ADVERTISING VIEWS OF DR. A. L. JONES The opinion that the best medium of advertising New Zealand in America was by means of motion pictures of the beauty spots and tourist resorts of the Dominion was expressed by Dr, A. L. Jones, who returned to Ashburyesterday after nine months spent iri dental science research in the western states of America. Because of trouble in China and Japan, said Dr. Jones in an interview with a representative of “The Press,” tourists from the United States were being diverted from the Orient and more interest than formerly was being taken in New Zealand. He attended the pictures at San Francisco and -.aw a short of Christcnurch and Rotorua. This had created some interest in the Dominion, he added, and was the best form of advertising because everyone went to the pictures, Other forms of publicity about New Zealand were conspicuous by their absence in the western states. Dr. Jones studied at the University of California, which had about 20,000 students centred in three campuses, one at San Francisco, one at Berkeley, and the third at I .ns Angeles. He obtained his doctorate of dentistry and also the degree of master of science in dentistry. He said the system of schools' dental clinics was better in New Zealand than in America, mainly because of the smaller population of the Dominion. At one school in the States there wore 4500 children and the nurses lost trace of them, but in New Zealand there were fewer children to deal with , and this enabled the nurses to make periodical examinations. "San Francisco is the most cosmopolitan city in America.” stated Dr. Jones. The city itself had a population of 1,000,000, while the bays, chiefly Berkeley and Oakland, contributed 3,000,000 more. The fertility of the soil attracted settlers from all over the world. Chinatown was the largest section of the city, the next being the Italian section. “The night clubs are simply magnificent,” said Dr. Jones. He said that there was a great variety of clubs which usually provided dinner and dancing, followed by floor shows, mostly of a vaudeville character. There, were dozens of clubs in each city, in all of which liquor was dispensed until 2 a.m. “It gave me the impression that the young people of America had rather lost the idea of living—they work hard and play hard,” said Dr. Jones. Traffic Control Dr. Jones sooke of the enormous amount of traffic in San Francisco, but said the control exercised by the traffic officers was something to marvel at. The Americans were excellent drivers, but there was very little sneeding "When an offence was committed a ticket was handed to the driver by the control officer. The fine might as well be paid at once as it would be much more expensive to appear bqfore the Court, Dr. Jones said. There - .,was an excellent system of sign-posting all the roads. The system of marking the main highways with double centre lines to indicate portions of the highway such as dangerous curves, corners or hills where cars travelling in the same direction must not pass, anpealed to Dr Jones. He said motorists could not go wrong if they observed the signs. Between some centres there were special traffic lanes where cars could travel at 50 miles an hour , and more. “I saw more traffic offences in Auckland on Monday than I saw in San Francisco.” he said. Although there were traffic jams and a - multiplicity of traffic signs, he was struck with the sunreme power of the traffic control officers. Specialisation in Education “A system of specialisation seems to form the education system of America,” said Dr. Jones. Ho continued that observation was made of the children from the time of the kindergarten and they were trained in the subjects in which they appeared to be most suited. Radio seemed to play an important part in education. There were many education sessions on health subjects and plays with a health theme broadcast to the schools, all of which had radio installations. ANNIVERSARY SOCIAL ASHBURTON METHODIST CHURCH A successful anniversary social was held by the congregation of the Baring Square Methodist Church, Ashburton, on Tuesday evening. The Rev. Angus Mcßean presided. Mr F. Frampton (senior circuit steward) welcomed the Rev. Percy Paris (president of the Dominion Methodist Conference), speaking of the work done by the president in all spheres of ’church work. Mr Paris addressed the meeting on "The Coming Revival of Religion.” The following programme was presented: —Choir items, “Comrades’ Song of Hope.” “The Lord is My Shepherd,” “Evening Hymn.” and a women’s partsong, "Lullaby”; vocal solos, Mrs K.. G. Fowke and Miss Merle Brown; pianoforte solos, Miss Betty Brown; cornet solos. Lieutenant W. H. Osborne; xylophone solos, Mr Hayward: and harmonica trios by Messrs G. and M. Penman and C. Dellow. Accompaniments were played by Misses R. Porter, B. Brown, and O. Watts. The treasurer's statement showed that receipts for the year amounted to £299 and expenditure to £l6l. A sum of £IOO had been received from the estate of Mrs L. Baker and £43 from the Ladies’ Church Guild. In less than three years the overdraft had been reduced from £240 to £3O. The circuit had contributed £l2B to foreign missions and £lO7 to home missions. The women’s auxiliary raised £66. A comprehensive review of the activities of the church was presented by the secretary (Mr W. H. Higgins). The Sunday School Bible classes, women’s guilds, and choir were mentioned as 'vigorous units of the church organisation. Congratulations were extended to Mr Mcßean on his appointment as presi- . dent-elect of the Methodist Church in New Zealand. HARMONICA BANDS MEET To draw up rules for a harmonica section in the annual ’contest of the i Canterbury Provincial Bands’ Association at Temuka in October, a conference of harmonica bands in Canterbury was held at Ashburton last evening. Mr R. Will, of Christchurch (president of the Canterbury Provincial Bands’ Association), presided. Messrs E. R. Hopwood, of Ashburton • £*he vice-president) and R. B. Hean, of Christchurch (secretary), were also , present. Delegates from Skinner’s - (Christchurch), Bloomfield’s Imperial, ■ Ashburton, and Timaru Harmonica ' Bands attended. Arrangements were made for quickstep, hymn, and own selection contests. • A shield for the winner of .aggregate points was given by Mr Philpott, of -Christchurch.