AS OTHERS SEE US

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 86, 10 April 1924, Page 11

AS OTHERS SEE US

RECENT VISITORS TO NEW ' i ZEALAND.

(FROM OUtt OTYN COKUESPONDENT.) LONDON, Bth December. This week Mr. Julian Grande's series of lectures on "New Zealand, were brought to a conclusion at "Halifax, where he had an audience of 3500 people, while many who were anxious to be present were unable to find accommodation. This lecture was delivered a few days before the general election, but as the Speaker of the House is a representative for the constituency there was no electioneering going on; Mr, Whitley was returned unopposed. Speaking of the size,of New Zealand, Mr. Grande said that it was as large as England and Scotland put together, and its population, was little more than that of Glascow. . "I, do not know," said' Mr. Grande, "what is the population of the United Kingdom now, but Carlyle, when he was alive, said that the population of the United Kingdom consisted of forty-five millions, mostly fools. (Laughter). Well, we shall know .next Friday whether the Sage of Chelsea, was right or not." (Loud Laughter). Now the Halifax people are still wondering to which side of politics Mr. Grande belongs. In the audience, was Mr. George Normanton, who happened to be touring in New Zealand at the time that Mr. Grande was there, and who had just published a book on the Dominion for private circulation. The proceeds of its sale will go to the Halifax Hospital, | and as much as £500 has already been raised. The book is' illustrated by Mr.' Normanton. Its contents are very largely reprints ,of articles. which have appeared in the leading Halifax paper. Mr. Normanton is a big buyer of New Zealand wool; and during his recent stay in the Dominion he purchased two thousand lambs. *(■ In- the course of his lecture, Mi-. Grande mentioned that he arrived in England from New Zealand last July and he- found that at the same time a shipload of. apples reached London. These apples, he discovered, were sold by the New Zealand Fruit Growers' Association at 2£d per Ib, but, while walking through a poor district of London, off Waterloo Road, he • saw the same fruit offered for sale at 8d per lb. "Now," added . the lecturer, ■ "tflere must bo something wrong if the public ■ liavfi to pay nearly 300 per cent, more for New. Zealand apples in London."