AS OTHERS SEE US

Evening Star, Issue 14513, 3 November 1910, Page 6

AS OTHERS SEE US

LOUD PLCNKFT’S RETURN. PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALAND. Lord our late Governor, has returned V)lreland, and has taken up residence at the family seat, Old Connaught House. Bray. The arrival of His Lordship at his residence was the occasion for rejoicing 'by the people of the district, araougst whom the family have always lived on terms of the greatest apiity and goodwill. The road leading to Connaught House was spanned wdth evergreens, and the avenues were also decorated with flags and bunting. A representative of the ‘ Irish Independent, ’. waited on land Plnnket at Connaught House, and learned some interesting facts with .reference to the country which Lord Plnnket has so successfully governed. At the outset His Ijordship expressed the pleasure which In* felt at being back once again in the Old Country. He spoke in terms of the highest praise of New Zealand. No country in the world could- show such an extraordinary prosperity, he said. '• And it is a strange thing,” continued His Lordship, "that very few people appreciate that that little country with 1.000,000 inhabitants has an ex[xi it trade at present of over £'20.000,000 a year, and imiwrts to tho extent: of about £15,500,000.”

Now Zealanders. Ills Lordsln'p added, wore very democratic people, and, in fact, many maintained that they were the very nearest approach to Socialists that existed in the nature of a Government. “ tint they combine with that,” ho resumed, " a magnificent loyalty—and I refer not merely to loyalty to the King, hut loyalty to the Empire, and a tremendous pride in it. It is a rather interesting feature, too, in connect inn with New Zealand that notwithstanding their extreme democracy, and flic lad, that their Government has been a Labor one for years, yet they passed with enthusiasm the other day. and almost without a dissentient voice, a system of compulsory service.” Asked as to the position of the Irish in New Zealand. Mis Lordship, with evident pride, answered that the Prime Minister. Sir Joseph Ward, was an Irishman, and some time ago the Governor, Prime Minister, and four members of the Cabinet wore all Irishmen. “ Wherever you go,” continued His I/ordship. '•yon find the Irish doing exceedingly well, and, thank God, there are no differences of opinion, religious or political, between them. 1 saw myself in Auckland the Protestant and Catholic bishops walking, ann in arm, through the streets, cracking Irish jokes, and certainly, so far as 1 am concerned, the kindest friends i had there were amongst my Irish compatriots, especially the Catholic bishops and the priests of their communion. 1 think it is a country in which Irishmen have done as well as in any part of the world, and although I should be the last man in the world 1o support or encourage emigrating ff tlie Irish must emigrate I don’t think th-y could find a happier or more richly-endowe 1 country tliau New land. 1 spent six of the happiest ana most interesting years of my Hfo oat there, but I suppose there are very few Irishmen who un not rejoice at the prospect of getting back to their own land.”