LUNCHEON CLUB

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 131, 3 May 1927, Page 2

LUNCHEON CLUB

BEAUTIFUL SWITZERLAND. ADDRESS BY MR G. 11. BENNETT. “If ever you visit Switzerland, spend a week there, not less,” said Mr G. H. Bennett when addressing the Luncheon Club to-day upon his experiences gained on a fortnight’s holiday recently spent in that country. Rev. G. T. Brown was tlie chairman. “Many years ago I had a desire to visit that wonderful country,” the speaker continued. “I lrad read of its beautiful lakes, fertile valleys and rugged mountains, but beyond that 1 had no conception of what a glorious place it really is.” Describing Switzerland and its statistics, Mr Bennett stated that, in area, it was about half the 6ize of the North Island of New Zealand, and very little larger than the Wellington province. One-third of the country was mountain tops and yet the population was six millions. The exports equalled those of any other land in tho world, the average being estimated at £43 10s 6d per head per annum. Deviating from the subject for the purpose of comparison, the speaker remarked that ho had inquired as to what the average per capita was estimated at in New Zealand on the basis of exportation nnd had discovered the figures to be approximately £39 11s, “The opinion prevails that Switzerland gets most of her revenue from the tourist traffic,” he said, “but this is incorrect, ns only 24 per cent, is gained from the tourists, and 50 per cent, alone from industries.” The Swiss were the producers of electrical machinery, laces and the well-known watches, while other articles were manufactured in excellent manner. A democratic people, the inhabitants of Switzerland were governed by a president, while a national senate was made up from members of the land, each representing a group of 22,000 persons. COMMUNITY GRAZING. The agricultural exports, the speaker explained, came from a very small area which yielded an amount to the value of £60,000.000. A noticeable feature was that there were no fences, community grazing being practised, and in winter the cattle were housed in the bottom floor of dwellings as a prevention against the cold weather. Mr Bennett then related his experiences of the various cities visited. All travel on the electrical railways was comfortable and the scenery viewed whilst traversing the tourist routes was indescriable. Mount Blanc, the river Rhone, Geneva and the numerous points of interest were touched upon as time would permit and the travellers had concluded their visit overjoyed with the trip. INDEPENDENT PEOPLE. “Tlie Swiss are an independent people and are most versatile,” Mr Bennett said. “The average citizen can converse in nearly every language and as English is taught in the schools they can understand the Englishman even though not all of them can converse easily in our tongue.” It had been the most wonderful fortnight the speaker had ever spent and would remain as a memory that could not fade. Mr J. IV. Fergie moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Bennett at the conclusion of his interesting address, the motion being carried by acclamation.