NEW ZEALANDERS ABROAD

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12252, 25 September 1925, Page 5

NEW ZEALANDERS ABROAD

THE TERM “AUSTRALASIA” PUTTING DOMINION ON THE MAP INTERESTING INTERVIEWS Paucity of information in the possession of Americans relative to the geography of Australia and New Zealand alike, virtually amounting to ignorance of the location of the principal cities of those brantfhes of the British Empire, has frequently attraoted the attention of visitors from the Antipodes to North America, apd much confusion has occurred owing to the constant use of the term "Australasia," which has caused the impression to exist in many minds that New Zealand was a part of the Commonwealth of Australia. On one occasion at a commercial gathering in Chicago a prominent man in public life re-; marked that New Zealand web the principal city or Australia. WELLINGTON OBJECTS "NEW ZEALAND” NOT IN AUSTRALIA." The term "Australasia" is losing its charm for New Zealanders, according to Mr James O. Neal, of Wellington, when that worthy passed through San Francisco on his way home from a visit to the Wembley Exhibition in London. The name is confusing in Mr Neal'e opinion, and fails to indicate the many miles and days of travel between New Zealand and Australia, and the complete separation of the Dominion from the Commonwealth.

"Australasia is the name applied to all territory included in Oceania, the principal countries being New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania," Mr Neal explained while , staying at the Stewart Hotel in San Francisco. "Confusion has grown out of the use of this all-embrac-ing name. New Zealanders find many objections to its use. "New Zealand and Australia do not look far apart on the map, but as a matter of fact there 'are 1300 miles of water between them, and the journey aboard ship takes three to three and a half days. "But the manager of the Victoria Hotel in London was not aware of this gap between the two continents of Australasia when he served his New Zealand dinner recently.

LUDICROUS JUMBLE THE KANGAROO FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. "It is the custom at the West Australia annual dinner for a representation of the black swan in ice to be paraded around the dining-room. < Thi6 symbol of the State is hailed with acclamation. "At the New Zealand dinner recently served at the Victoria the management obviously took a leaf out of West Australia’s . book. Unfortunately, they took the wrong leaf. When a large kangaroo in ice was paraded before the guests, astonishment was succeeded by howls of laughter. "Sir James Allen, the New Zealand High Commissioner, suffered this impudent intrusion of the Australian kangaroo upon a New Zealand gathering with admirable equanimity. "It was an absurd and amusing incident, but it has a moral. It goes a considerable way toward justifying New Zealanders in their objection to the words 'Australasia, and Australasian/ "

A CHRISTCHURCH OPINION WHAT SIR HARRT~LAUDER GAVE. Mr Arthur A. Mclntyre, manufacturer of Christchurch, passing through San Francisco a few days ago, told of the new turn of activities of his countrymen, stating that Sir Harry Lauder has turned publicity man, his intentions being to exploit the charms of New Zealand, where he recently passed a few weeks on a holiday tour. "New Zealand has a large population of Scotsmen." Mr Mclntyre explained. "After Sir Harry Lauder had been among them for a fortnight or two lie begnn to give advice. Yes, that’© all ho gave. "Sir Harry thinks that New Zealand should raise <£loo,ooo, or about 500,000 dollars in American money, to spend immediately to advertise the charms of the Dominion. He thinks it is q wonderful place for secenery, sports, and a generaj good time. The witty celebrity has been on a tour of New Zealand. When his engagements were concluded he went on a tour of the country, and was amazed, he eaid, to find it so beautiful and so little advertised. He is coming back to stay longer."

Mr Mclntyre was on his first visit to San Francisco, planning to visit various manufacturing districts of the United States, and later journeying to his old home in Glasgow before returning to Christchurch N.Z. WHEAT BROKER ON TOUR "BOOSTING THE" DOMINION." Another interesting visitor from New Zealand passing through the Californian metropolis was Mr Adam B. Snowdon, of Wellington, station broker, who was on bis way to Canada to tour tlie wheat belt of the sister Dominion. He also seized the opportunity of endeavouring to give New Zealand a "boost" in the American Press directly he arrived in San Francisco, stating that New Zealand is concentrating on the growing of wheat this year in order to prevent a repetition of last year’s shortage. Mr Snowdon's business is acting as financial and purchasing agent for a number of New Zealand farmers, who form a miniature co-operative organisation. "The Dominion Government has appealed strongly to farmers of New Zeuland to concentrate on wheat grooving this year." Mr Snowdon said, "This concentration is to prevent a recurrence of last year's shortage. "There is considerable wheat land in New Zealand, at least much more land than is necessary to grow sufficient wheat for home consumption. We have not many mouths to fill in comnnrision with the size of our country. New Zealand now has a population of 1,400,000, according to recent calculations. Of this total, 54,000 are Maoris, natives of the country.

It -will be many years before we shall feel crowded.

“Considering the location and circumstances of our development our population is fairly well divided. There is a difference of only 30,000 between the number of male and female inhabitants of the Dominion/’