THREE AMERICANS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1207, 16 August 1911, Page 6

THREE AMERICANS.

SOUSA, MILLS, AND NICOLA. ■ AT THE NEW ZEALAND CLUB. The New Zealand Club yesterday entertained at luncheon three prominent American visitors, Mr. John 1\ Sonsn, Professor Mills, M.A., and Nicola. About one hundred members were present, and Mr. P. C. Freeth, president, occupied the chair. Among those present were: The Hon. G. Fowlds, Mr. H. C. Tewsley (chairman of the Chamber of Commerce), and a number of members of Parliament, including Messrs. F. 31. B. Fisher, J. F. Arnold, D. M'Laren, C. H. Poole, J. A. Hanan, and J. T. Hognn. Tho chairman very briefly introduced the guests, who were received with loud applause.

Professor Mills gave a twenty-minutes' address. Ho was pleased to be here, lie said, because for a number of. years in the United States ho had been very interested in political and economic problems, towards the solving of which New Zealand had made earnest and sincere endeavours. When a social or economic question was discussed in America, it was generally said, "Oh, they do so-and-so," or, "They don't do so-and-so in New Zealand." (Laughter.)' It was primarily with tho intention of finding out for himself what we rfally did in Now Zealand in regard to certain social and economic problems that he ha'd visited here. Ho referred to the opportunities that young countries had of experimenting with new economic measures for tho good of humanity, and New Zealand was one, of the most progressive countries in that respect. He referred to the -welding of the English and the American nations together, and the evidences of gcod feeling that existed between Canada and the United States. The treaty between the United States and England was going to stand —(applause)—and its permanence meant that France and Japan would come in also; and when Great Britain and her dependencies, and France, tho United States, and Japan—these great countries —had decided that there shall bo no war until arbitration had been attempted, not ouly would war become impossible between these countries, but between any other countries. (Applause.) In regard to economic advance in New Zealand, he belioved that economic and industrial questions were going to be solved quicker in Now Zealand than anywhere else, and , when a question was solved in one country it would be solved in all countries. (Applause.) America, he concluded, regarded us not as strangers, but as friends belonging to tho one great common cause. (Loud applause.) Mr. Sousa niado a few humorous remarks regarding America and himself that kept tho gathering highly amused. As a wit and humourist Mr. Sousa ranks very high, and tho ten minutes allotted to the famous musician yesterday will long be remembered by the members of the club.