THAT’S THE SIZE OF IT

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29192, 30 April 1960, Page 12

THAT’S THE SIZE OF IT

(By WHIM WHAM) If Auckland and Wellington were compared with cities of similar size in the United States. Britain and Central Europe. they would come out on top culturally, socially and otherwise, said the first secretary of the United States Embassy. Mr W. Kling, addressing the Wellington Society of Accountants.—News item. Really, it oughtn’t to cause us very much Surprise To hear that we can lick any Cities of similar Size, Culturally, socially and of course “otherwise”. You see, we’ve been telling each Other this kind of Thing For so many Years, that the Repetition doesn’t bring Any Pleasure any More, it adds neither Zest nor Zing. Culturally? I suppose Mr Kling means Music and Art And Drama, in which our Cities have made a promising Start, But in what Direction I wouldn’t care to say, for my Part Socially? Well, that Means Anything from the Hop in the Oddfellows’ Hall To the R.S.A. Annual, the local Hunt or Plunket Ball, Five O Clock at the Joneses or Six at the Pie-cart or Coffee Stall. And “otherwise”? An interesting vague sort of Expression. I note that Mr Kling is a Member of the Diplomatic Profession In which Haziness is normally the better part of Discretion. Auckland may indeed have a slight Edge on Rochester N.Y., And Wellington on some Town in the Black Country or the Ukraine, but why Need such odious Comparisons' detain Us? I repeat. WHY? One does appreciate the cultural Virility, the social Vigour, And of course the “otherwise", relative to a given Population Figure But one sets one’s Mark by Cities that are Better, if not just ~ simply and quite vulgarly BIGGER!