THE DOMINION AND THE MOTHERLAND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 587, 16 August 1909, Page 4

THE DOMINION AND THE MOTHERLAND.

SOME POINTS OF COMPARISON. ' . (By Dn. Gibb.) •"With ■ equal , pleasure and Burpriso I listenol.TCociitly to a yoiuig Now Zeajander who had been on a visit to Australia,as bo recounted the impressions inado on'Ms'mind by what'ho had seen and heard on tlw other side of tlio Tasman Sea. His experiences had been of tho nature of an eye-opener. For the'first time he had realised that this is but a little country, our cities small, our railways, tramways, buildings, and traffic insignificant compared with those of New South Wales aim Victoria, wit3i their great capitals, Sydney n.tul , Melbourne. It was very refreshing to hear this youth speak so, for one lias jjrown weary of the ceaseless brag about New Zealand and all things, animate and inanimate, which it contains. Perhaps the cock-a-doodle-do is not to be wondered'at in the case of those who. have never been outside the Dominion; but what shall bo said of the New Zcalandor .who travels far afield, and yet returns without -having onco : b'ceni moved to admiration of the scenery, the cities, tlio institutions, and manifold developments of civilisation in the lands through which ho has passed? But, .unless iny experience is unique, this is just the state- of mind of the average colonial when making observations in "furrin , pairts." Nay, more, it is seldom ho sees abroad anything nearly ns good as it is to bo found hero. It would seem' that■ of our leading citizens are sometimes affected by a bombastic temper—vulgarly known as "swelled bead." Bid ,V6u not tell .us the other day. of Sir Robert Stout's plaudits and diatribes—plaudits-,for . New Zealand, diatribes, for poor old Britain? Perhaps, however, we iiavo grown a little moro modest within tho last few years, but much too long has it .been the• fashion to disparage the rest of tho world, and especially the Motherland as in multitudinous respects far, far behind these hoppy isles of nirs. Probably tho late Mr. Seddon wm responsible for bringing this bluster, into-fashion. How the/phrase he loved to use—"God's own country"—used to stick in some of our gizzards, as much for its arrogance as for its' irreverence I A prominent Now Zealander living in England told mo that Mr. Scddon's tall talk had made us for- a while the laugh-ing-stock of London. I can well bcliove it. Some Comparisons. Now tho fact is,that while wo have done very well and havo no need to Ik> ashamed of our , progress in tilings material—while we may-fairly claim to havo been-animated by the spirit of Rudyard Kipling's counsel in the Song of tho English:

"Clear the land of evil, drive the road, i . and bridgo the ford; Make ye siiro to each his own, That ho reap where he bath eovm" ; - we are at "few,-if nay, points ahead of the Old Land, and at a. good many we arc behind it. We have hardly any slums in our cities, but our cities' are new, and besides they are not big enough yet for slums. '•There is little or none of tho 'desperate poverty, which is the portion of' a large number of the people at Homo; but wo are loss tlian a hundred years old, and the poverty of Britain is an inheritance from a hoary past. Wo hare our labour legislation—a very plethora of it during i the last two decades—but I have hoard a Minister of the Crown—two of them in facfr-firavely questioning whether tho manual toilers of this country are a bit,better oft than they were twenty years ago. • My own impression is that they are not. But admitting, if you like, that our labour laws aro much Euporior to those of Great Britain, the fact remains that it is from that country* wo draw most of our inspirations. ■, Not only in literature, and art, and theology, but. also in many of tho things on which wo most .pride ourselves— statecraft, municipal politics, business 'methodsT-can tho Motherland teach us salutary lcssoas. To.be sure this i 3 only what ought to be;" but why do we not frankly recognise'the.fact, and.look up to aad reverence that country of great men, great institutions, and great industries,?. I am proud of Now- Zealand, but I am prouder still of those wonderful, islands in tho grey.northern sea. "Fnircst of all her daughters, Eve, sang Milton of uiir first mother, and fairest and greatest of all her possessions seems to me tho land which wo still call the Homo Land. • "■, ' . .... '

Poor.John Bull. I ' To the candid, open-minded colonial—there aren't too many of him, ac I hayo been saying—a stay of a month of two.in London ia hio-hly instructive. Ho has - heard away down in New Zealand that the English are very, very backward in trade,-.-manufactures,, and tho rest of it. Tho Americans are the Englishman's master. The Germans are so far ahead of John Bull that poor John.lias lost sight' of him. Above all, tho colonial has heard that the wonderful people of whom ho is one can give tho British-points at every turn.- Well, I am"not an expert in trade eonce-rns, but any man of ordinary intelligence, using his. eyes and oars, .is sufficiently capaMe of forming an bpinion on these matters, and if there is a" more up-to-date, enterprising, and progressive • city than the metropolis of the Empire I have not only not seen it—a small point, though I have seen a good many cities—but I-have never, even "hoard of it,, which is much more significant. London is stupendous,- not merely from its gigantic size, l out by reason of ..tho. ■ push, energy, and ingenuity everywhere displayed. And m their degreo many other cities vi England and Scotland are like, it. I observed that tho Chief Justice has been calling in question the agricultural methods of the Motherland, and it is frequently heard here that she is hopelessly old-fashioned and put of date in the matter of farm implements and machinery. It may be that in tho Shetlands the; ploughs are still as primitive as in the days of Triptoleinus.'lellowley, whose derision of "the one-handled thins they called a plough in this blinded country" the reader of Sir Walter's "Pirate" will well remember. In tho upland farms of Scotland expensive implements .would not pay tho farmer. ■■ But if a friend, of mine—an engineer' of high-standing —is to be oredited, the assertion that the British agriculturist is away behind us in the machinery ho uses is so much fudge. ■ , •

Clean Streets. During my recent sojourn in the Old Country I'was continually surprised by, the cleanness of the streets in, I think, every town I visited,' without exception. .They put the streets of Wellington, to shame. We often complain of our howling winds and skies that shed their moisture in'suoh copious showers, but if they did'not we should all dio before our time of zymotic disease. The ingredients we inhale with every breath in all the streets of this city, save the chief thoroughfares (and they are nono too clean), are unmentionable. The streets are simply left to Nature's cleansing. Citizens of the Old. Land have certainly something to teach ua in the disposal, of "matter in the wrong place," which is a more euphonious, yet strictly accurate, rendering of the word "dirt." That is a negative amenity, but the cities of England have amenities of a very positive character. The public parks of London beggar all description for extent and beauty, buir all tho world is supposed to know that. All tlio world, however, does not know, that in places like Aberdeen, and indeed in towns_ of very much less importance than the Granite City, with its two, hundred thousand inhabitants, owing to the public spirit of tho corporations, and especially to the bonofactions of tlie wealthy, thero are splendid parks and gardens upon which arc lavished sxn amount of care, taste, and money that simply astonish n man from tho colonies, or'lot mo rather sa>v from New Zealand, for I must not forgot tho magnificent Domain of Sydney nor tho Gardens .of Melbourne.

Increasing Prosperity. In tlic great cities at Homo tliero aro slums, dreadful slums no doubt, but t!\oso do not impress ono more than the evidence to l>o'seen on every hand of tlio'prosperity enjoyed by the vast majority of the people. Take my native city of Aberdeen as an illiiEtration. Thoro aro shuns tliero still, but not nearly so many an there wore twenty-five years ago. But'there are also streets and streets and streets of solidly-built, comfortable- houses, and tenanted evidently not by rich people—they are hot largo enough for that—but by thrifty, prosperous folk who jaanago to make both aids moot yr*ii somo-

tiling over. As I walked through those endloss streets I fclfc as if a magician had been at n or); transforming the place out of all similitude to the cdty'l-onco know so well. A very largo part of this city breathed an atmosphere of prosperity which must bo disconcerting to the. colonial,' who is taught to pieturo the centres of population at Home as scenes whore squalor reigns, save among the fortunate fo'.v.

pood Manners. , ' From the standpoint of comparison 1 think I was most of all impressed by the, civility and eooJ manners of* the people—l do not mean of those from whom refinement might bo expected, but generally. The youthful friend to whom I'have already referred wa3 greatly struck by tho courtesy of tho Australians, especially, of officials on tho railways, tramway cars, and in the public offices. I have often been impressed in tho same way. Unleos 1- am much mistaken, politeness 13 a characteristic of tho Sydney citizen to a far greator degree than it-is of the average Wellington man. I do not stand alono in thinlnnx so. Some time a2o ono of our best-known citizens who had just returned from a visit to Sydney told mo that ho had been very gratefully surprised by tho kindliness and civility of the man or boy in the street. He said that ho had several times over inquired tho way when ho knew perfectly well where ho was, simply that ho have thn pleasure of being directed by the young folk whooe guidance he had solicited. Ho'ventured tho 'opinion that it was probably tho abundant siinsh'ino that mado'the people no bright and pleasant. I a'm afraid it is not. the lack of sunshine that has raised New. Zealand, and especially Wellington, to a bad eminence in the matter of incivility. London has much less sunshine than wo, but a comparison between . the manners of . the peoplo in the streets of London and in tho, streets of WellinHton is disastrous to the latter. One would desiro to bo perfectly just here. There arn all sorts and conditions of folk in New Zoaland as elsewhere. Here, as in other countries, wo have tho gentleman who is cla'd in homespun and whose bands are roughened by honMt toil,-and we have tho snob in broadcloth: But, speaking goncrally, a New.Zealander in London, if ho keeps his eyes wide open, cannot fail to be impressed, with tho good feeling and , the good manners which characterise' the throngs of the London pavements .

About Policemen. . There are certain' classes at Home that should be singled out for spwsial mention in this connection — tramway and 'busmen,- and railway officials. Everybody has heard of the remarkable body of men who comprise the Metropolitan Police Force. Tho way in which they regulate the traffic ot the greatest city of the world is passing wonderful. But I was Triore impressed by their courtesy than by. their skill. Ask a direction of a Wellington constable, and ten to one—there is the one—the reply .you receive gives you tho. feeling that on tho whole you have rather taken a liberty in making your request. There may be no pooitiyo rudeness—there is certainly no positive civility. They come a long way behind the London constablo with his "first to the right, third to the left, sir." Thoy come a long way behind even tho.Scotch policeman. The-Scots "bobby," e.g., the Glasgow man, is not at all on a "lever■with tho London for surface politeness, but for real courtesy and kindliness I imagine he is second to none. They snv that, most of tho Glasgow .contables are Highlanders, and the Highlander is nothing if not polite. , Anyway, I shall not soon fprget the Glasgow constable of whom I had asked a. direction one Sunday morning; "Mftii," said he, as ho put his hand ' in friendly fashion on my shoulder, "man, I've clean forgotten, but I'se gang in and ask for Yβ,"and he was as good as his word. But it is the London policemen-who make one marvel. To watch them.; as I havo sometimes done for ten or fifteen minutes on. end. directing the traffic with t surpassing skill, to note the care they take of women, and children,' and the endless patience with which they answer, question after, question.from bewildored strangers is an education in manners, ;■ .. , ■ .■. . : , •■,'■■'" OtTtho Tramoar. , ■ ■ .: . ;•.■ '" The considcration' ( siiown"fo , passengers by the conductors of tramears and. ''buses _ is another phase of London .'manners that evokes warm\ admiration. In-a Wellington car, if you are not mado to feel that you are there 'on ■sufferance,- you are certainly taught that you need not expect any; advice as to routes, -stopping places, or, indeed, anything else. Of - course, again, there are exceptions. It is a positivo pleasure , to travel Avith some conductors, but so unusual is civility in these public, conveyances that when one meets it one'k heart glows With gratitude to the. courteous .official. 'But at Homo courtesy is well-nigh ' universal—on 'buses, cars; railway, trains, one is charmed - by tho civility. with which one is treated on"every'hand. Notwithstanding the corn-;, mon habit of depreciating the Motherland, it is 'coming to'be considered necessary to the highest-efDcioncy of a professional man, ior oven a business man,' that he shoulu I spsnd some time in the Old Country, Xlio aspiring medical student feels that ho must add a Home.degreo to those obtained locally, if he would come to the front of his profession. - The student of theology, if he cannot complete his education in the famous schools of the Old Land, realises that ho will bo handicapped in his future work. It was pointed out at'a recent meeting of the General Assembly of ; the, Presbyterian Church, that every prominent position in the Church was held either by men from Homo, or by men who had gone Home for a season. The'retail draper or tho warehouseman is a more effective workman after' gaining experience of the way in which business is douo at Home. And it would bo a very excellent thing if we could send our car conductors Homo to study how tho London 'busman manages his business. It is quite a pleasure to have anything to do with that individual. Ho anticipates your- wishes, helps you off and on his vehicles if you re-, quiro such assistance, never grudges your frequent questions as to your whereabouts, and plays tho Good Saniaritan in the most pleasant manner imaginable. Occasionally you do strike a rude conductor,' lot us say as often as you como across a courteous conductor in Wellington. ■

Two Illustrations. Even in Sydney thoro is, in this connection, as in the other alrendy mentioned, a vast ■ differonco from tho stato of mattere obtaining here. Let mo .give two illustrations.* On a certain occasion I repaired to Circular Quay to' find a tram that would take me near to St. Andrew's College. I made jnquiry at the office, and was advised to board a certain car. I told the conductor whero I wished to alight, when lid politely informed me that I would'do better by another'route —the car was a short way olf. I did as directed, and we were on tfte point of starting when tho very courteous conductor who had sent me to this vehicle, came running to-say that he had been making inquiry from some-of bis mates,' and found that-1 could do better by his car after nil. Imagino anything of this kind in Wellington if you can 1 On another occasion, en the . Glebe. Road car, I asked the conductor if ho, could put me down at tho nearest stopping-place to a certain person s houso. "I'm sorry," was tho instant reply, "I know the gentleman very well by sight, but I do not know oxactly where he lives." Two or three mimites later, ho camo to say that ho now knew whoro to put me down." Ho had asked along bis ■ cars .nt every man till ho had got the desired information. This experience happened exactly as I-relate it. Imagine, again, if you can, aii experience liko this in our city. Such imagination is-beyond my powers. It is on record that Oliver ■ Cromwell,' when disputing with certain -Presbyterian divines,' broke out: "I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God to consider that you may be sometimes mistaken." 1 am often inclined to say something like that when 1 note the- hardness ■ and boastfulness of the mood common in this country. "I beseech you, by the mercies of Rod"—or, since it is not quite tlio thing to name a Being with whom so many of us have- merely, a bowing acquaintance', if wo havo oven as 'much as that— I'l bescooh you, in tho name of modesty and common sense, to consider that you may have at least something to lenm from the played-out old Motherland." A good many things we have in truth to learn from her," and notably wo may with profit tako' a leaf out of her hook of good mannersj courtesy, and kindliness in speech and actiod. ' '■'■',