RECOGNITION SCENE

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33189, 31 March 1973, Page 14

RECOGNITION SCENE

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The Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Chiao Kuan-hua, met the New Zealand Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Walding, ior talks in the Great Hall of the People in Peking ..Mr Walding then asked Mr Chiao if any of the Chinese had been to New Zealand. Mr Chiao laughed and replied, “Zero, zero.” He added, “We'll catch up very soon.” —News. When you come to think of it, Sir, It isn’t the least Bit queer, — There are 800 million Chinese Who’ve never been Here. I can’t give the Figure exactly, Whether Minus or Plus, — Shall we settle for 800 million, All People, like Us? It’s queer that we’re only beginning To be dimly aware, That in spite of not having been Here. They are actually THERE. Give or take a few Million, Sir, 800 Million Chinese, — In less than 4 million square Miles. A pretty tight Squeeze, 200 Bodies per square Mile, more or less. — If my Figures aren't accurate. Sir, They’re a pretty good Guess. We wouldn’t have met as Many In Peking’s Great Hall, — Still, it was Something, wasn’t it, To be There at all? Something to see them Here, Sir, In Wellington, The Nation we couldn't recognise With our Blinkers on, 800 million Invisible Men! Those Days are gone.