LONDON A MAGNET

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 September 1927, Page 2

LONDON A MAGNET

CENTRE OF WORLD KNOWLEDGE. Why is London the magnet of the world ? At first one might be inclined to answer that the magnate quality of London is in its wonderful historical buildings and ceremonials which have defined the passing of the centuries. But inquiries made by a London reporter would seem to show that a very large proportion of the visitors to London from overseas come to learn rather than to see. For every thousand to see the sights there are probably two thousand who have come with the idea of bringing themselves up-to-date in some department of the world’s knowledge. There are more visitors from New Zealand to London this year than ever before —except during the war and the Wembley Exhibition years—and the following replies from half a dozen New Zealanders to a question about the reason for their visit to London may be taken as typical: — A Doctor: I am here to brush up acquaintance with the latest methods of ultra-violet ray treatment and generally to keep up with the trend of modern developments —which cannot be done' as conveniently anywhere else. A Young Farmer: I worked my passage to London in order to see something of the marketing arrangements and general requirements of our best customer. When I have work--ed my way back I hope to be more efficient than when I started, through personal acquaintance with what happens to our produce at this end. A Woman Teacher: I came here because London provides the best chances of doing original research work in history. A Motor Car Agent: I have come Homie to negotiate personally with the makers of two different British motor cars for which I have the agency in New Zealand, and to tell them something of our requirements. I knew before I started that British cars were better than American, but after seeing the cars made here I will be much better able to prove it to my customers. ( A Wool Salesman: I have come to get experience of the Home wool markets, and after a year or so of acquaintance with Yorkshire and London, will return to my firm in the North Island.