AS OTHERS SEE US.

Evening Star, Issue 12764, 17 March 1906, Page 2

AS OTHERS SEE US.

A SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LEGISLA TOR'S IMPRESSIONS.

Mr W. D. Ponder, M.L.A., spent a. little over a month in this colony at the New Year, and this is what he tells the Adelaide ' Register' are the conclusions he has formed as to the causes of our acknowledged prosperity : First, let me remark that New Zealand is far larger than I expected it to be. We in Australia are too apt to look at a map and compare New Zealand with the size of our own vast continent, and then to think of it as a small country. A month's journey from the Bluff to Auckland produces a "very different impression. It has a genial climate and a splendid rainfall. The soil in places is excellent, but there is much mountainous and volcanic country that is.almost useless. The mountains are grand and wild, the rivers are broad and beautiful, the plains are fertile, the cities are progressive, and the people are courteous, industrious, and sober. During my four weeks' sojourn hi the country I saw only four men the worse for liquor, and was not once accosted by a beggar; The thousands who promenaded the streets of the citios on Saturday evenings seemed to be hippy and contented, and there wa§ on absence of that larriMnism so noticeable in some Australian cities. The hotels ore large, and provide good accommodation for visitors, but are closed on week nights at ten o'clock and altogether on Sundays. I did no-, see any unemployed in the whole colony, but whenever I asked if men could find work if they wanted it I was assured that they would have no difficulty in doing so, and that tradesmen received from 10s to 12s per diem, while laborers received Bs, . . .

If I were asked what is the reason of Ne v Zealand's success, I would reply that it is not simply because of her good soil and bounteous rains. These were there fifteen years ago, when the country was in a bad way, and people were leaving by thousands. The principal cause of New Zealand's progress, in ray opinion, must be attributed to closer settlement and the freezing of lambs. It is no use having good land in a State if it is locked up by a few selfish people, who will neither use it themselves nor allow others to do so. Some of the fertile land in New Zealand has been cut up into small farms, and as a result the place is flourishing. Much of the success of this policy must bo given to Mr Seddon and bis Ministry, tout the name of John Balance must never ba forgotten in this regard. I did not have the pleasure of meeting Mr Seddon, but an all sides I heard hjnj spoken of as the great man of New Zealand. Even the Maoris love Mr Seddon, and, as illustrating this, the remark of one may be here quoted. 1 I asked an intelligent Maori if he had any King in his tribe, and ho replied irj splendid Epglish: "I believe there is one somewhere, but I havo no time for Maori kings. I have two Kings, and they ate ■quite sjifnciertt, for me. They are King Edward VEL/and King Dick." Another reason why New Zealand is progressing is because its people believe in their own country, and never cry "stinking fish." They have a good country, and they kjiow it: ""and, inor'e important still, • they want everybody else to know it; With* this object in view they do all they £aq to- advertise its beauties and resources. They establish tourists' bureaus, publish views of scenery, give away books showing the best way to travel, are courteous , to visitors, advertise in other countries, and give tneir football champions a cheap trip toJEnglaiid and America... for advertising . purposes. . ... ~ Our public men, esueejaily the meanbers of our; <3ity ' Oouncil and the Legislative Council, should be compelled to travel through New Zealand, jjnd then they would probably eome with a few progressive ideas. It would he money well spent if the Price Ministry would pick out, say, twenty of these reactionaries' and send them off at the country's- expense: They might return - convinced- of ihe necessity; of"electric trams, rubbish "de-.; atructora. and abattoirs;' aad'thej wwdi^

probably eee the advisability of electing the mayor and aldermen on a different franchise from |hat which exists here. In Adelaide gach sonlless things as banks and kpardings are allowed eighteen votes, but in New Zealand-only living men and women are privileged to vote, "and then only once each. There js no plural voting in municipal matters in progressive New JSealand. Whilst thoroughly enjoying my trip to -New Zealand, I am quite satisfied with South Australia as a place of residence. What we require in South Australia to push the State ahead is a little more selfreHance, and. perhaps the introduction of a few men with the same amount of enterprise as £he public men pt New ZealandWhen Mr Seddon comes to Adelaide let us try to persuade him to stay here for a few years, so that he may lift us out of onr oopaeryative ways.