AMERICA AND AMERICANS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19254, 19 August 1924, Page 8

AMERICA AND AMERICANS.

JTR W. M. HUGHES’S IMPRESSIONS. ! THREE outstanding features. (Pub United Pbess Association.) AUCKLAND, August 18. Three outstanding features of American •life were deeply impressed on Mr A'. -Vi. Hughes during nis visit to America, these were the alert system of technical and vocational education, the problems of cosmopolitan immigration, and the intensive in- . tereet of Americans generally m America first last, and nearly all the time, lire former Prime Minister of Australia, acoompanied by bis wife and thoir little daughter, is returning to Australia bv the Niaea “Whilo I was in the United Stales,” said Mr Hughes, “some prominence was given to the British policy in respect of a naval base at Singapore. The defence of the Pacific was a topic of leading interest, but lb was only in relation to America ana American interests. 'lhe defence of the Pacific as a whole rouses but Utile interest in America. Australia and Now Zealand ' are hardly in the picture at all. ' “There is considerable haziness m _tno United States about Australia and Now Zealand. It often seems that not even their position geographically is known. As for the resources and growth of our countries the American knowledge generally is infinitesimal. Vigorous propaganda would be advantageous. Trade at present is onesided, the advantage being with America. I pointed that out on every possible occasion, and on that account alone my tour, 1 think, was serviceable. “What impressed me most in regard to education in America was the extensive system of technical training, but, in respect of the humanistic side of education, which forms character and ripens judgment, the Universities of Australia and New Zealand need not fear comparison with those in the States. An outstanding feature of American university life is the enormous size of the institutions. For example in the University of California, there are 1000 teachers on the professorial staff and over 20 000 students. In Harvard there are eome 600 professors and 15,000 students. This makes it quite impossible to have that i close relationship between teacher and taught, between professor and student, which ’exists in the British Empire system of university education. The Americans are beginning to recognise tuo danger in thoir crowded systems. “I found Americans everywhere most courteous and hospitable,” continued Mr Hughes. “There is no possible doubt about tho° interest the keen American takes in our young democracies nor about his sincerity in wishing for them continued progress and success, but he should bo told more about our resources and aspirations. Vigorous propaganda in that direction would be worth while.”