WONDERS OF OTHER COUNTRIES

Northern Advocate, 9 March 1936, Page 7

WONDERS OF OTHER COUNTRIES

VISITOR’S EDUCATIONAL OUTLINE

MR D. M. RAE ADDRESSES WHANGAREI AUDIENCE

Mr D. M, Rae. M.A., principal o; Auckland Training College, on Frida} carried a Whangarei audience by wore of mouth through Canada, U.S.A. England, Denmark. Germany and Belgium. The speaker delivered his address under the auspices of the New Zealand Educational Institute in Pelita’s studio, and, although necessarily rather hurried, he gave an inside glimpse into the natural conditions and interesting features of the overseas countries. It was in 1934 that Mr Rae journeyed Home via Canada and the U.S. “In the British Commonwealth,” he said, “if I only had five minutes in which to speak, I would refer to the great prairies.” Never had he seen so depressing a land. Some day, he prophesied, someone —probably an alien—would write a symphony on these barren spaces where there were houses only at intervals of miles. About them there was no beauty—gardens or hills— and he wondered how women lived there. As he came to Winnipeg a fellow passenger pointed to an asylum as a silent answer to his question. It was a terrible kind of life for the farmers, as the only work they were engaged on was wheat farming—a monotonous

existence. He visited the Indian reservations, where the occupants carried on with no aim in life. He felt himself comparing them with the Maoris, who were taught to have some work. French Language.

At Montreal he was surprised to find that the dominating language was French. There he inspected Wolfe’s Cove and other historical ‘places of stirring times. Then on to Minnesota, he called at the biggest university in the world, where there were 18,000 students. It was quite a city in itself and he spent four days there studying the tions. They had research councils and were looking forward in every direction.

Mr Rae visited Chicago to see the World’s Fair and thence went* to New York to view Broadway from the Empire State building, 1250 feet up in the clouds. He found a great deal of interest in the social Adjustment Bureau, where he saw people of all ages who haa become unemployed being given advice as to their abilities. From there they went on to a huge school where arts and crafts, and many other pursuits were given outlet in the latent talents of the erstwhile unemployed. Washington was the next stop and here he was interested to firu* a beautifully laid-out city of classical architecture and great monuments to, Washington, Lincoln and otl?br builders of American' history. It was free from skyscrapers. Green Fields of England.

Quitting America the New Zealander set sail for England, where it was a relief to see again the green fields and delightful countryside. At Oxford, he told his listeners, he heard Lord Tweedmuir, Mr Walter Elliott, Minister of Agriculture and other famous men speak. Reading from a book written on his travels, Mr Rae outlined the result of his Visit to the historic home of English education and literature.

Next he took the audience with him on to Denmark and the very beautiful capital of Copenhagen, which was the only big town in the country. He was fascinated with the statues which were everywhere. He went to one of the big high schools. The principal. Mr Rae declared, was one of the most cultured gentlemen he had met. At this school there was a special branch Where scholars talented in that direction could study, agriculture. It was the only institution I he had been at where the pupils did not desire fi) down topis when the bell rang. Serious Germany. In' Germany young and old were serious in their view of life, and, especially of Germany. People marched through the country singing their national songs. Mr Rae dealt very interestingly with his visit to the Berlin State Opera House. From there he travelled to Belgium to visit the Western Front, which was a source of great interest, as he is a returned soldier. Ypres recalled many old memories.

At the conclusion the speaker was thanked for his word picture, and, on the motion of Mr L. Broomfield, a hearty vote of thanks was carried by acclamation.