LIFE IN AMERICA

Evening Star, Issue 18716, 19 August 1924, Page 8

LIFE IN AMERICA

A SELF-CENTRED NATION. DEPRESSIONS OF MR HUGHES. [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 18. Three outstanding features of American life were deeply impressed on Mr W. M. Hughes daring his visit to America, These were the alert system of technical and vocational education, the problems of cosmopolitan immigration, and the intensive interest of Americans generally in America first, last, and nearly all the time. The former Prime Minister of Australia, accompanied by his wife and their little daughter, Is returning to Australia by the Niagara. “ While I was in the United States,” said Mr Hughes, “some prominence was given to the British policy in respect of a naval base at Singapore. The defence of the Pacific as a whole rouses but little interest in America. Australia and New Zealand are hardly in the picture at all. “There is considerable haziness in the United States about Australia and New Zealand. It often seems that not even their position geographically is known. As for the resources and growth of our countries, the American knowledge generally is infinitesimal. Vigorous propaganda would he advantageous. Trade at present is onesided, the advantage being with America. I pointed that out on every possible occasion, and on that account alone my tour, I think, was serviceable. “What impressed me most in regard to education in America was the extensive system of technical training, bnt in respect of the humanistic side of education, which forms character and ripens judgment, the universities of Australia and Now Zealand need not fear comparison with those in the States. An outstanding feature of American university life is the enormous size of the institutions. For example, in the University of California there are 1,000 teachers on Hie professorial staff and over 30,000 students. In Harvard there are some 600 professors and 15,000 students. This makes it quite impossible to have that close relationship between teacher and taught, between professor and student, which exists in the British Empire system of university education. The Americans aro beginning to recognise the danger in their crowded systems. “ I found Americans everywhere most courteous and hospitable,” continued Mr Hughes. “ There is no possible doubt about the interest the keen American lakes in our young democracies, nor about his sincerity in wishing for them continued progress and success, but bo should bo told more about our resources and aspirations. Vigorous propaganda in that direction would bo worth while.”