MONEY WELL SPENT ON CULTURAL RELATIONS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 7

MONEY WELL SPENT ON CULTURAL RELATIONS

More money could be spent by New Zealand in the cultural field of international relations for profitable returns in prestige, according to a former University of Canterbury professor, Dr. J. B. Condliffe.

The presentation of the naturalised New Zealander, Lili Kraus, the pianist, in New Delhi last month “was worth many times what the marketing departments would spend without hesitation on background advertising," he says in a letter to the editor of “The Press.” Dr. Condliffe is in New Delhi as the Director of the National Council of Applied Economic Research. He writes that his letter is prompted by the official reception on December 15 at which the Acting-High Commissioner of New Zealand, Mr R. L. G. Challis, presented Lili Kraus to a representative audience of Indians and foreign diplomats. She charmed the gathering by her artistry. She is well known and has many influential friends in India.

“What is important is that she carries a New Zealand passport and is proud of her citizenship. She was officially presented to a distinguished audience as a New Zealander. New Zealand honoured itself when it gave citizenship to an artist of such world-wide renown,” he writes. “The small sum spent in presenting her in a simple but very effective setting was money well spent. No-one should grudge the Department of External Affairs an adequate vote or its representatives abroad allowances liberal enough to do this kind of representation. From a sordid commercial

standpoint the attention attracted so favourably to New Zealand was worth many times what the marketing departments would spend without hesitation on background advertising. From the far more important aspect of international relations on which not only our wealth but our lives may depend a great musician can do more to bring understanding and respect than almost anyone else. The great and even the smaller powers do not neglect cultural embassies. In the last few months in India, the Austrian and Czech orchestras, Russian puppets, Jugoslav and American dancers have been presented. It was a proud day for my wife (who is a third generation New Zealander) and myself when Lili Kraus was presented as a cultural ambassador from New Zealand. More money could profitably be spent in such ventures,” the letter concludes. Dr. Condliffe is a distinguished New Zealand economist, at one time occupying the chair of economics at Canterbury University College and subsequently holding appointments with the Institute of Pacific Relations, League of Nations Secretariat, University of London and Stanford University. A year or two ago he visited his homeland before retiring from the chair of international commerce

at the University of California. In retirement he is continuing writing on economic and historical subjects and engaging in research works.