AS OTHERS SEE US.

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 81

AS OTHERS SEE US.

DE ROSEBY INTERVIEWED.

On his return to Sydney the Rev. Dr Roseby was interviewed by a representative of the Daily Telegraph. He said he found many changes in the social cendition of the people since his residence there 20 years ago. Everything spoke- of progress. He was struck with ths keen interest manifested by New Zealandexs in the future of the Commonwealth, but he never heard any wish expressed to add the colony to it.

New Zealand, like Japan, said the Doctor, cherished great insular ambitions of her own. Eer advantages were conspicuous. First, in Laving a climate that made strenuous labour possible without exhaustion ; second, in being naturally well-watered; third, in the fertility of her soil; fourth,, in her great mineral •wealth ;• fifth, in her great^facilities for transit by river as well as rail, for there was no part very remote from the seaboard; and sixth, in the select character of her chief original settlements, by Scottish Presbyterians in Otago-, "by English Anglicans in Canterbury, and by the select settlements under the Wakefield •ystem in Wellington and elsewhere.

One. of the things that impressed him deeply ■was the almost entire absence of signs of Abject poverty and distress. Social derelicts Jike those seen shambling along Sydney streets, or sleeping in the parks, and neglected cnildren like those encountered in the streets of Redfern and Woolloomooloo ; young men like those who, instead of becoming the substantial yeomanry of our country, were heard crying out after empty bottles, hawking .fruit, or selling rabbits, were absent in New Zealand. Means had been found of settling these people on the land. This, he contended, was largely due to wise legislation. The land legislation there led the world. A recognition of its value was seen in a somewhat striking way on a high elevation between Dunedin and Christchurch, where a monument, conspicuous for miles ■ rounds had J>een erected to the memory of Sir John M'Kenzie, who inaugurated this system, and carried it out with resolution and vigour.

In cutting up the great estates, and adding the system, of Crown tenancy, they made it easy for a man with slender capital 'to make a, home for himself xipon the land. They had gone in largely for ..village settlement. Then, again, the colony had undertaken itself what elsewhere had tended to become an oppressive monopoly. It was certainly impossible to observe in the actual condition of tlie people »ny evil results -emanating fxom this vigorous State initiation, and on the whole New Zealand was a long way, more progressive than any of- our States.

TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION.

Dr Roseby was deeply impressed with the excellent results obtained from the legislation enacted to deal with the liquor question. The act Inade provision for a local option poll to be taken at the same time as the general elections for the House of Representatives, and tha option embraced a reduction of licenses or- abolition. The results attained so far had been highly satisfactory. In sis of the electoral districts no-license was carried by overwhelming "majorities. In 24 other districts a majority of votes were polled for no license, but not in sufficient numbers to make the three-fifths required to carry the issue. A large increase in the number of votes polled for no licenses or reduction were prominent features in the situation Landing at one port he found a great hotel which once used to be crowded with seamen, wharf labourers, foundry hands closed—absolutely an empty house. He asked how that miracle had been wrought, and he learned that it was these seamen, -wharf labourers, and foundry hands that had voted no license, and closed all the local hotels. Their women folk and their own better sensa had convinced them that they would be better without them. The Doctor gave one illustration of the good that this had •WiroTlght by giving a personal instance of ■where a ne'er do "well who was "becoming a lopeless inebriate having gone to a prohibition district was now keeping sober. The Doctor visited several large centres, and witnessed the changes that had been worked. Several large liotels had been closed in some, while in Ashtrarton (Cajaterbtrry) he found himself absolutely in a prohibition district.

THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

During his sojouru in Dunedin, Dr Roseby found himself in the maelstrom of a chronic education controversy concerning the Bible in ecßools. He felt himself able to make a substantial contribution to i&at controversy by

pointing out that in New South Wales we had hit on so felicitous a compromise that we had practically no education controversy here. "Of course," he said, "I made the necessary exception in ths case of cur Catholic fiieuds.'' He felt that he could honestly and strongly recommend the New South Wslcs system, owing to the universal content whica it created

RELIGIOUS OUTLOOK.

Dr Roseby was struck with the larger space that religion occupied in the thoughts and feelings of the people. He attributed this to the quasi character of settlement previously referred to. A kindly spirit also pervaded the relations of the various churches with one another, even as regarded the Roman Catholic branch, and he found the chvrch full of expectancy m regard to religioiis revival.