Dominion Seen Through Foreign Eyes

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 10 March 1934, Page 14

Dominion Seen Through Foreign Eyes

QONSIDERABLE interest in the Maoris, in New Zealand’s thermal wonders and in the Dominion generally is taken by the peoples of Europe, not only in the great cultural centres such as Vienna and Rome, but also in the more remote and less-developed postwar Balkan countries.

legs.’ Further, many Europeans were very uncertain about the geographical position of New Zealand. In Budapest, where I was interviewed by the ‘Presti Hirlap, ’ one of the leading Continental newspapers, the photographer, when, writing a title under my portrait, said the Dominion was near Greenland. Fortunately, the editor challenged, this.” , Mr Lusty hastened to say that such conceptions were not always the rule, but that many European peoples had quite a good idea of New Zealand. “The manager of my hotel in Germany had visited New ‘Zealand; in the Simplon Orient Express I met an Austrian perfume manufacturer who, through his interest in New Zealand’s flora, had read deeply about the country; a Hungarian passenger on the Danube river steamer asked if I knew :i publication called the ‘Auckland I Weekly News,’ and in Constantinople T met an- engineer who was planning to visit the Dominion.” Among the reasons for the knowledge of New Zealand abroad were -the special Continental editions of London papers and the publication of one or more English newspapers in large capitals, such as Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade. “IMy souvenir copies of the ‘South Slav Herald,’ of Belgrade, contain letters from correspondents in Auckland,” Mr Lusty mentioned. Unfortunately, it was often, the more undesirable publicity, such as of reports of the riots and earthquakes, that wras given prominence in these papers. In particular, many people associated New Zealand with earthquakes.

These were among the interesting facts of how New Zealand is viewed in foreign eyes, disclosed in an interview at London with iMr Cecil W. (Lusty, who- recently spent several months in Europe as travelling correspondent for London publications. Mr Lusty, who wras formerly of the “New Zealand Herald”, staff, and who was reporting last summer for the “Morning Post,” London, had previously visited the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. His last, tour embraced 11 countries, including Turkey and '.Greece.

This rather surprising interest, it was explained, was often based on totally wrong conceptions of New Zealand—impressions illustrating the adage that “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” “For instance, I was frequently asked by fellow passengers, in business circles and in private homes,” Mr Lusty said, “questions concerning the ‘warfare between, the savages and whites, ’ ‘ the extent of the European’s conquest in New Zealand,’ and ‘signs of adoption of European dress and customs by the natives.’’

“Concerning fairly wide-spread hazy reports of our thermal regions at Rotorua and Wairakei, I found much scepticism about geysers, mud pools and other phenomena. Indeed, people asked me if I were trying ‘to .pull their

The Balkan countries were proBritish and a surprisingly large num*

Impressions Gained By Wandering N.Z. Journalist

ber of people spoke English. Students from ell over south-east Europe attended the well-known Roberts College, in Constantinople, and the American colleges in Greece, while English-speak-ing leagues and classes were universal. The league at Sotfia, capital of [Bulgaria, with a population of only 250,000, had over 400 members. “Here and at other leagues, I Was cordially w-elcomed and questioned on all aspects of life in the 'Dominion.

“At the Foreign Ministries, with which my work brought me in contact,” said Mr Dusty, “conversation often swung to New Zealand, and enquiries were made about our political, economic, currency and social problems. Specific interest was exhibited in our agricultural and farming, pursuits, as the soil largely constitutes the life-blood of several Balkan countries.”

As the foreign radio broadcasting investigator of the “Wireless World,” Mr Dusty visited many radio stations where, lie found unusual interest taken in 1 the Dominion, because reception reports had been received from New Zealand listeners. The Rumanian Broadcasting Company had more than 60 letters from New r Zealand, and others were shown him in IParis, Brussels, Vienna, Budapest, Rome and Belgrade. (He also met amateur transmitters who had talked with Dominion amateurs.

“The fact that I was alone and belonged .to distant New Zealand gained me. many friends during my extensive travels,” Mr Dusty said, “and I was invited to a number of private homes, the conversation sometimes being carried on through the medium of a third language.”