TRAVEL CLUB

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23004, 26 April 1940, Page 2

TRAVEL CLUB

ADDRESS BY REV. A. V. WHITING

South Africa was the subject of an interesting address given by the Rev. A. V. Whiting on Wednesday morning at a meeting of the Canterbury (N.Z.) Travel Club, held at Ballantynes. Mr Whiting, who lived for two years in Johannesburg, described the contrast between the restful tranquillity of Cape Town, with its fine buildings of Dutch architecture, and its leisurely citizens, and Johannesburg, 1000 miles away across the Karroo, a city 6000 feet above sea level that 50 years ago was a handful of tin shacks and now is like another New York, with its bustle, its fine railway station that cost one and a half millions, its hundreds of expensive motor-cars, its tremendous wealth and heart-breaking poverty—greater than that of the East End of London. Mr Whiting described a descent of one mile and half he had made underground to a gold mine that was like a town with brilliant lights and electric trains. This was one of many mines in the district, from which, at the present time, £100,000,000 worth of gold was won each year. But notwithstanding its wealth, the country had its great problems—the problem of half-castes, or coloured people who were despised and rejected of men, and the problem of the “poor whites,” unskilled Europeans who would not work with the natives, but who were unable to undertake better-class jobs. But the real Africans, With their big eyes, black hair and flashing teeth, always laughing, always talking, Mr Whiting found most lovable people, capable and loyal to their employers, although they were constantly bullied and dealt with in anything but a Christian spirit. Before Mr Whiting’s address, duets were sung by Mrs A. C. Sandston and Mrs Cyril Goode, for whom Mrs J. C, Cullman was accompanist. Mr F. W. Hobbs presided and Mrs Lionel Cordery and Mrs H. Cogan were hostesses. Guests of honour were Mr and Miss Joan Whiting, Miss Hothenberg, and Miss Moira West (England), Miss L. Sutherland (Melbourne), Mrs S. J. Harbutt, Mrs Geoffrey Palmer, Miss Margaret McAllister, Miss Murray (Auckland), Mrs H. F. Butcher (Napier), Mrs J. C. On* (Wellington). Mrs A. McDougall, Mrs W. Wrather (Dunedin), Mr and Mrs J. G. Rutherford (Port Chalmers), and Miss McDougall (Balclutha). The members of the Spreydon Croquet Club spent a pleasant afternoon at the closing ceremony of their club for the season. Prizes for competition games were awarded to Mesdames Rountree and Holmes. Mrs Woodcock won the junior prize, presented by Mrs Rountree.