A CANDID CRITIC

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11249, 29 June 1922, Page 7

A CANDID CRITIC

AS OTHERS SEE US "TOO MUCH OOCKNEYISM IN NEW ZIIALAND" NO INDUCEMENT FOR TOURISTS. “The resources of New Zealand, regarding dairy farming and sheep raising are almost unlimited, and I hare been very much impressed with what I have seen," remarked Mr James R. Anderson, of Victoria, British Columbia, when chatting with an Auckland “Star" reporter on the Niagara regarding his impressions after a tour of New Zealand. “But I have been astounded at the manner in which you have treated your forests. Perhaps it was necessary to destroy them at the time, but I think it has been bad for the country. Where I have seen the native forest, the richness of the soil has been unsurpassed. Another thing that struck me in. this country, is the entire absence of ground flowers.” He was surprised to find that some of the municipalities in New Zealand were offering premiums for the destruction of email birds, and judging by experience in his own country thought this to be a mistake. Mr Anderson commented on the fact that owing to the wholesale destruction of small birds in France some years ago, it had been necessary for children to follow the ploughs doing the work formerly done by the feathered world. It must also be remembered, he 6aid, that the birds, although undoubtedly a pest to fruitgrowers at oertain periods, had to forage for their food for nine months of the year, and consequently their efforts in eradicating fruit pests "must be very considerable. OUR RAILWAYS. “I suppose that it iB unwise to comment upon a political or semi-political matter," continued Mr Anderson, “but I should very muoh like to say something about your railroads. I think that if they were taken out of the hands of the Government and placed under other control, you would tiave a much better service. I must say that they make very good time although the narrow gauge does not lend itself to luxurious carriages. I think that the department might have an observation car on for tourists. Surely you want to encourage the tourist, traffic; Travelling through some of vour finest scenery, it was quite imposible to get a proper look at the country. A beastly luggage van was put on the very part of the train, the part in Canada which is always reserved for the observation car, where people can see for themselves the natural beauties of the countryside. You want to do more to encourage the tourist traffic, which should surely be a great revenue-producing business if properly managed.” AN EXAGGERATED IDEA. “I have found the people here to be most hospitable, but they have a most exaggerated idea of what they believe to be Yankee shrewdness,” continued the departing visitor. “A very exaggerated idea—muoh more so, in fact, than we have in Canada regarding the Yankee. There is also a woeful lack of knowledge concerning Canada, but an interchange of visitors would doubtless improve that.” He had also something to say regard- . in« the New Zealand educational system,

which ho believed to bo on a par with that of British Columbia. “I have found in both countries that generally the primary schools coo supervised by people not well grounded in the King's English," he said. "There are too many touchers of indifferent calibre. There is also a great deal of the ‘Cockney’ accent in this country, although it Is much better in that respect than Australia." The well-educated New Zealander the visitor had much praise for, remarking that he might easily be mistaken for an Englishman. “The English spoken by the educated New Zealander,” concluded Mr Anderson, "is very pure indeed. I think it is as good as 1 have heard anywhere, but you hav.s far too much in the way of Cockneyism among the other classes. By that I mean the conversation one hears in the streets.”