“New Zealanders Must See World”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29669, 13 November 1961, Page 2

“New Zealanders Must See World”

With the overwhelming impression that New Zealand people need to ‘‘get out of their own country" in order to take a more realistic look at the world, particularly the Orient, Miss Joan Mahar, lecturer in arts and crafts at the Christchurch Teachers’ College has returned with her brother from an extensive tour of the East. Tanned by more than three months of near-tropical sun encountered in more than 15 Asian countries. Miss Mahar relaxed in the “comparatively cool atmosphere” of a Christchurch nor’ - west evening. Opening a copious handwritten diary she retraced her lengthy itinerary. Beginning from Sydney this had included visits to cities, towns and rural areas. She visited Singapore, Malaya. Brunei, Sarawak, North Borneo, Hong Kong. Korea. Vietnam, Thailand. Cambodia, the Philippines, Japan. Formosa and New Guinea. ‘ We in this country need every possible encouragement to get out of our own land to visit these places—nations that are becoming even closer neighbours of ours today. We must take every opportunity possible. “But perhaps the greatest tiling that such a visit teaches one is a greater awareness of the wonderful standard of living and the real space to live in that we have in this country. I don’t think we can possibly realise this just living here,” she said. As strong as her original purpose to see something of the peoples and cultures throughout the countries of Asia bad been before leaving New Zealand, was the desire on return to do even more to stimulate a greeter interest in the comparatively littleknown culture of the East. Already through the weekly Asian Culture Club held at the Teachers’ College such interests have been developing firmly among students under Miss Mahar's guidance. Her visit, she hoped, would give an added stimulus to the club's discussions and activities. Hiere was no doubt that New Zealand people, having been brought up largely on European art and culture were general y unaware of the tremendous range of Oriental art and craft. Miss Mahar said In spi’-e of all that one read and heard about the Asian people's outstanding desire for education, the extreme urgency with which this was regarded in most Eastern countries stiH came as something of a surprise. “We were astonished again and again at the sacrifice parents and whole familial

were prepared to make to these ends,” she said. Another surprise, again something for which most visitors were not fully prepared. was the extreme and genuine courtesy of all the Eastern people. “And I am speaking of things quite apart from the excellent service in hotels there. The desire of people to go out of their way and to please with no thought for themselves is quite noticeable everywhere,” Miss Mahar said. As with all travellers in these parts the tremendous multitude of impressions were hard to define immediately on return. Japan had. however, held an especial interest for Miss Mahar, with its noticeable emphasis on culture and artistry “I would say that the average Japanese is probably more aware of the important distinction between good and bad than those in most other countries.” Also of particular interest for Miss Mahar was the opportunity to visit pottery works and see village potters at work in both Japan and Korea. But everywhere she and her brother had visited they had been struck by te interest in New Zealand and Australia. In fact, die number of people in all countries who had expressed earnest desires to come and live here had been rather amazing, <ie said.