NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11659, 25 October 1923, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND

AN APPRECIATION AND SOME CANDID CRITICISM. J. T. Soc writes: I met a lady yesterday and speaking of my experiences in this beautiful country during the last few weeks she said X ought to write- them for the “Times.*’ I came here on a business visit A month or so ago, was taken in hand bv a. Ma&terton man and hurried tfnough sonic of the bush country. I havo liad experience of the scrubs of tu.pical Queensland, of the New Hebrides. and the .Solomon Islands, but have not seen anything finer in those countries than I passed through here. I have met Government officials, fiom heads of department© to messengers, and for courtesy, and desire to assist a stranger they can only be compared with the fine body of men who did so much to place the public service of Australia on the high plane that characterised it till * ‘Labour in politics” came into Federal power a few years and destroyed its prestige. People in Australia speak of New Zealanders as lacking in hospitality and warmth. It has not boen my experience, but on the contrary, I have been treated in so friendly 9 spirit that I hope to renew an aoquaintance so auspiciously initiated. 1 have boen in the country mostly wheTO hospitality ic> usually proverbial, whether in this or any other British community, but of course the sophisticated city dweller, is by force of experience compelled to exercise caution in regard to new-comers. Nevertheless, I look on my 6tay in Wellington only witK satisfaction not only lor the friendship that has been shown mo, but because of its beauty and surroundings. On Sunday last, however, I went to the Zco and it struck me with a chill. There seemed something familiar >an<i unpleasant about it that I could not define till I got among the gloomy ; pines. Then memory worked back to childhood's day when one’s literature dealt largely with the forests of Europe ; where children just walking tied up so as to be safe from the eagles which carried the unsuspecting to their eyries to feed their young, and wher© school children were attacked by wolves in the forest. Then I realised t-h*± the “City Fathers” of Wellington long ego, had introduced the dismal pine of Europe' and which n&w constitutes ant anomaly in a country of brightness* and beautiful forest trees. I looked for the lovely rimu, the stately tho graceful totara, the slender white pine and the flowering and fruit trees and shrubs, hut of them them was no sign. Yesterday I went to the Botanical Gardens and with a similar result, fofl rot a single Maori tree did I see, nothing large but the dreary pine of Eur* ope. If I were King in this country for one week only, I would ordain that every dismal pine should TSs converted into useful packing oases and the waste given to hospital. I would Older the liberation of the Indian turtle dove —with the spotted patch on its neck—the crested bronze wing, the magpie, and peewit, that they might multiply and spread about city and suburbs, for all are friendly creatures which do much good and no harm. And I would do something for Shacklefcon.’* dogs besides keeping them prisoners. The paper being run out I am unable to say a lot more to indicate the pleasure that has been mine during my brief stay, but I leave in a few minutes for Australia in the hope that I have initiated what will be a permanent acquaintance with this delectable country.