AS OTHERS SEE US

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21727, 16 February 1934, Page 8

AS OTHERS SEE US

CONCEPTIONS OF DOMINION KEEN/ INTEREST IN EUROPE AN AUCKLANDER ON TOUR [from our own correspondent] LONDON. Jan. 12 Considerable interest in the Maoris, 5n 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 post-war Balkan countries. These were among some interesting facts of how New Zealand is viewed in foreign eyes, which were disclosed in an interview with Mr. Cecil W'. Lusty, of Auckland, who recently spent two and a-half months in Europe as travelling correspondent for London publications. Mr. Lusty, who was formerly on the New Zealand Herald staff, and who was engaged in reporting duties last summer on the Morning Post in London, had previously visited France, Spain, Portugal and North Africa. His latest tour embraced 11 countries, * including Turkey, Greece and Italy.

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 Europeans' conquest in New Zealand,' and 'signs of adoption of European dress and customs by the natives.' Ideas of Rotorua and Wairakei / "Concerning fairly widespread hazy reports of our thermal regions at Rotorua and Wairakei, I found in many cases an attitude of scepticism regarding geysers, mud pools and other phenomena. Indeed, 1 was asked if 1 also were trying 'to pull their legs.' Further, many persons were very uncertain about the geographical position of New Zealand.. In Budapest, where I was interviewed by the Pesti Hirlap, a leading Hungarian newspaper, a photographer, when writing a title under my portrait, said the Dominion was near Greenland. Fortunately, the editor challenged this."Mr. Lusty hastened to point out that these misleading conceptions were not the invariable 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; on 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 fellow-passenger on the Danube River steamer asked if I knew jZj publication called the Auckland Weekly News, and in Constantinople I met an engineer who was planning to visit the Dominion." Knowledge of English Tongue

Among reasons for the knowledge of New Zealand abroad were the special Continental editions of London newspapers and the publication of one or more English papers in 'large capitals, such as Vienna, Budapest and .Belgrade. "My souvenir copies of the South Slav Herald, published in Belgrade, contain letters from correspondents in /Auckland," Mr. Lusty mentioned. Unfortunately, it was often the more undesirable publicity, such as reports of the riots and earthquakes, that was given prominence in these papers. In particular, many persons associated New Zealand with earthquakes. The Balkan countries, it was found, ■were pro-British, and a surprisingly large number of people spoke English. Students from all over south-east Europe ; attended the well-known [Roberts College in Constantinople and the American colleges in Greece, while English-sjjeaking leagues and classes were universal. The league at Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, with a population of only 250,000, had over 400 members. "Here and at other centres of the leagues, 1 was cordially welcomed, and questioned on all aspects of life in the Dominion. Political and Social Problems

W At the Foreign Ministries, with vhich my work brought me in contact," said -]\[r. Lusty, "conversation often, swung to New Zealand, and inquiries were made about our political, economic, currency and social problems. Specific interest was exhibited in our agricultural and pastoral pursuits, as the so'il largely constitutes the lifeblood of several Balkan countries."

As the investigator of foreign broadcasting systems, on behalf of the Wireless ,World, Mr. Lusty visited many radio stations, where he found unusual interest taken in the Dominion, following reception reports from New Zealand listeners. The Rumanian Broadcasting Company had had over 60 letters from New Zealand, and others were shown to him in Paris, Brussels, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade and Home. He also met amateur transmitters who had "talked" with Dominion amateurs.

"The fact that I was travelling alone and belonged to distant New Zealand ''gained me many friends during my extensive tour," Mr. Lusty concluded, "and 1 was invited to a number of private homes, the conversation sometimes being carried on through the medium of a third language."