THE GREAT DOMINION

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11783, 20 March 1924, Page 7

THE GREAT DOMINION

MUCH LIKE AMERICANS PROGRESSIVE AND FULL OF PEP SAY VISITING DELEGATES. INCREDIBLE FEATS. “The extraordinary ability of so small a number of people—one million and k third I understand—to create all this in a space of sixty years is almost incredible.” Thus said Dr. Will J. Mayo, founder of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.A., in an interview. Dr. Franklin Martin (Director-Gen-eral of the American College of Surgeons, Chicago) told a reporter that the party had attended the annual conference of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical' Association at Auckland. The last week had been spent in the South Island, the party having visited Dunedin, Lake Wamaka. and Mount Cook. WELL CONDUCTED. “Regarding vour hospitals,” said Dr. Martin, “we have seen the hospitals at Auckland, Christoliurch, Dunedin, and Napier, and they are the best conducted of any hospitals as far as the general care of the patients is concerned. Your medical profession in New Zealand compares favourably with the British medical profession, and will stand comparing with them or with any in the world.” “PEP” AND ENTERPRISE.

“We, as Americans feel.” added Dr. Martin, “although it may not be taken as a compliment by some, that you are like the Americans in enterprise, and the ability to get there. Pep’ I might call it. You New Zealanders remind me of our awn people. You are very much like' the Canadians. You combine the charm of the English with the enterprise of people in a new world.” “MUCH LIKE AMERICANS.” "I echo what Dr Martin said,” was Dr. Mayo’s reply to a question as to his view's on New Zealand. “The people we have met are very much like Americans. They may not like the compliment. but it is true. It is surprising, too, how well educated the people are.” Dr. Mayo said he had nothing to complain, of in the way of the railways. Each of the party had had a chair m the railway carriages. The trains ran on time, and the roadbeds were good. “I was surprised at the cleanliness of the eating-places at the stations,” he added. “The food was quite good. I was extraordinarily well pleased with Lake Wanaka. It is beautiful; so is Mount Cook. The hotels are very good.” WORK FOR ALL. No evidence of poverty could be seen by Dr. Mayo. He said that there seemed to be work for all, and all were doing it. Everybody seemed to be well fed, and all seemed to have plenty of clothes. He added that he had been in New Zealand for three weeks, and he had enjoyed every minute of it. “I, have seen Rotorua and Wairakei,” continued Dr. Mayo, “and I was made a chief of the Araiwa tribe, the same honour as was conferred on, the Prince of Wales. The whole ceremony was gone through, and I was presented with the chief’s accoutrements. The scenery there is beautiful. One of the prettiest rides I have ever had was from Rotorua to Napier. We did it in one day easily, despite what he had been told of the roads, which were quite good for mountain roads.” He* - spoke highly of the Christchurch Hospital, and also of the Dunedin Medical School, which he visited on Wednesday last. He spent a day at the Dunedin School, and the work that was going on was, in his opinion, really great. NOTHING TO CRITICISE.

“I have never visited a place before,” concluded Dr. Mayo, “in which I had nothing to criticise. I feel that the Anglo-Saxon stock, of which I come myself, has done excellently. Your total population is only equal to that of Detroit, which is far from being our biggest city, and it seems incredible that you have made roads -and bridges and communications and built such cities in sixty years. Of course, it is of no use to compare it with a country that is 150 years old. .You are all very comfortable and happy, from what I have seen.”