PLEASANT MEMORIES OF LONG TRIP ABROAD

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7179, 28 March 1930, Page 11

PLEASANT MEMORIES OF LONG TRIP ABROAD

Awahiiri Lady MANY COUNTRIES AND CITIES VISITED Pleased to be home again but with very pleasant memories of an interesting trip, Miss L. E. Bennett, of “Buckland,” Awahuri, returned to hor home on Tuesday after two years’ absence abroad. Miss Bennett made the most of the time at her disposal and making London her hoadquarters, visited Italy, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Norway. Travelling by the Canadian Pacific route, she broke hor journey at a number of the larger Canadian cities and on the return voyage spent 'some weeks in Australia.

“In England one has only to mention that one is a New Zealander to be sura of hospitality,” said Miss Bennett, in conversation with a Times representative yesterday. Of all the cities which she visited, Miss Bennett has the kindest memories of London. Its traffic was stupendous but wonderfully orderly and well controlled. The noise was never ceasing but it was not so nerve-racking in this respect as New York, while tho traffic was much better controlled than that of Paris.

Travelling by train on the Continent was pleasant in many ways but jostling crowds made it difficult for tho foreigners. The ever-present toll of “tipping” was also unavoidable—all the time she had been absent she had only had a tip refused three times. After her tour of the Continent she had found England delightfully restful. Unemployment and distress did not obtrude themselves in England and to the casual observer were hardly apparent. The English people did their best to hide theso worries and all classes appeared to be very busy. The Labour Government was generally in good odour and respect for the abilities of Mr. Ramsay MacDonald were noticeably growing. New Zealand appeared to be very well thought of at Home and the increased publicity work in connection with the Dominion’s products was having its effect. She had heard many tributes to tho quality of New Zealand butter; typical of these was tho advice she had received in a London dairy, to buy New Zealand butter “because wo like it better than English butter and we have nover seen a speck of dirt in it.”

Miss Bennett enjoyed a short visit to New York but preferred the English atmosphere to the American—particularly the American newspapers. She attended ox-President Coolidge’s church and was surprised to discover that as soon as tho benediction was pronounced, a screen was unrolled and a cinema screening of tho life of Abraham Lincoln thrown on tho sheet. The introduction of motion pictures into a church seemed unusual but in no sense irreverent. The trip across Canada by C.P.R. had been a wondorfl experience. The season had been midwinter and the great range had been completely snow covered. Coming down the St. Lawrence, icebergs as big as houses had been encountered. One of tho most enjoyable experiences of her trip had been a fortnight spent at a typical old English farmhouse in Somerset where she had heard the nightingale sing at three o’clock in the morning. Another delightful trip had been to Loch Lomond. “All that has been said about that wonderful bute is true,” said Miss Bennett.