IN MANY LANDS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 169, 5 April 1923, Page 7

IN MANY LANDS

OBSERVATIONS ON A WORLD TOUR IMPRESSIONS OF MR. M. COHEN * NO COUNTRY LIKE NEW ZEALAND

"After my second visit to Europe, I return with the impression 1 had 2i years ago—that there is no country in the •world to compare with New. Zealand. The atmosphere and ienvironment here are superior to those of any country 1 have visited. In fact, I can truthfully say that the highest Eng.lish traditions are kept more 'inviolate here than in England itself.” Such were the* views 'expressed by Mr. M. Cohen, who returned by the s.s. Ulimaroa yesterday afternoon from a world tour of about twelve months.

Interviewed upon "his arrival by a Dominion reporter, Mr. Cohen stated that this had been his second visit to Europe, the last trip having been made 22 years ago. He had formerly travelled extensively, particularly in. the East —China, Japan, the Philippines, Java, the Dutch Archipelago, and the Malay States, so that his present trip afforded him interesting comparisons with conditions twenty years ago- “It was very pleasing,” said Mr. Cohen, “to find that . a- smile and a welcome awaited all New Zealanders in England. This is due in largo measure to the character and bearing of the men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the war. So splendid an impression did they create that the name ‘New Zealand’ is an open open sesame to all doors in Great- Britain.” The voyage Home was made by way of the Panama Canal, which was of great interest to the traveller. “Upon seeing London' after such a lapse of time,” said Mr- Cohen, “it was borne in’upon ono that very great strides have been made. I found that the population of the city had increased by 50 per cent. Whole districts which within my memory had been open fields are now part and parcel of London. The transport requirements of this huge aggregation of population—seven millions —are efficiently catered for by underground tube, ever being extended wherever population exists. The electric underground railways and the splendid system of motor-buses, of which there are 4500 in Greater London, each doing an average of 100 miles a day, effectively cope with the traffic.” An Object-Lesson to the World. The control of traffic, Mr. Cohen declared, was again a source of wonderment, and was rendered possible by two essential elements—the ono being the courtesy and firmness and general efficiency of the London police, and the other the absolute obedience with which every member of the community responded to their direction. America, Franco, and other Continental countries had sent delegations to inquire into the system, and though the delegations had returned fully armed with information, it did not appear to have been successfully introduced abroad. The explanation, Mr. Cohen said, Was" especially obvious to the' observer in France, /where it was clear that the police did not command a similar obedience.

“in thia connection,,” proceeded the New Zealander, “I would like. to say as a tribute to the London police and all other minor officials, including bus conductors and tramway men, that ttheir civility and helpfulness to the stranger command respect and admiration. i “After a long and delightful tour of the West of England—Devonshire, Cornwall, and " Wales—returning through Oxford down the Thames,” Mr. Cohen continued, “I visited the Continent, spending mo?t of the time in Paris, Cologne, Berlin, and sels“Paris, in comparison with the beautiful city which I remember twenty vears ago, does not appear to hava had time to recover from the war tragedies. In the Midst of a Revolution. “In Germany, one tried to visualise for oneself as Lar as one’s inodest judgment allowed th© economic conditions of that much-discussed country. But events have moved so rapidly that the conclusions of to-day fade before the conditions of to-morrow- I happened to bo in the midst, of the first rising which took place in September two , men being snot dead in. front of my hotel, and I do not desire to have again so close a view of such an occurrence. “Germany is a country of extraordinary contrasts, the manufacturers and tho workmen engaged in the making of exportable goods being comparatively well off, anil the nnddicclass figuratively strangled and starving The thing which struck me most forcibly was the absence of any apparent military influence in the city of Berlin. The military were so conspicuous when last I saw tho city, today one hardly sees a uniform. While W-iis is true as far as Berlin is concerned, I understand, and have reason to believe, that it is not true in Eastern and Southern Germany. Playground of tho World. “Returning to England for a month or so, we next spent six weeks on the Riviera, ono of the playgrounds of We world. People from every clime meet on a spot so endowed by . as to bo a veritable paradise to tho pleasure-seeker. ‘ Almost eternal sunsTiine reigns, and gay, well-dressed crowds frequent the many. places ot amusement. Every view is ono o beauty, and the traditional allurements of Nico, Monte Carlo, and the Italian border need no further allusion. “Returning to London, we sailed on tTio s.s. Themistocles. of the Aberdeen Line, and had a perfectly fino-weathe! trip all tho way to Australia. Jhp daily Marconigrams provided us with news of disasters by sea and land owing to the gales .raging on tho English and French coasts. “While in London I took the opportunity. of visiting the port of London Authority, whosg officials received mo with tho greatest courtesy, and provided mo with every facility for making investigation: but I -eel that any comments I have to make in !Ms connection should bo left until have the opportunity of reporting to the Wellington Harbour Board.” Mr. Cohen, who is a member of jho Wellington. Harbour Board, took

the opportunity of looking, into tho method of coal handling in every port he visited. No Country Like New Zealand. “I return to this country.” concluded Mr. Cohen, “prouder than ever to lie one of its modest citizens, and wTHi a feeling that everv one of vs should he-.content afid happy to under those conditions which hare boon provided for us, and which, though perhaps not perfect, compare more than favourably with those in any other part of tho world. ’ * ■