PATER’S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3097, 23 July 1913, Page 72

PATER’S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

OTHER PEOPLE’S SPECTACLES. I am sometime© very much amused when I hear or read of what Britishcis and Europeans think of us. Once, when coming from Melbourne to the Bluff, I happened to strike up an acquaintance ■with an Oxford man who Mas anything but taken with colonials and colonial ways. I did not tell him that I Mas a colonial until wo were nearing the Bluff. His surprise was great when he heard that I had not seen the Homeland and Continental cities we had been speaking about. He evidently thought Australasians were as ignorant of Great Britain and Europe as Britishers and Continentals are. as a whole, of Australasia. And the same holds good of Americans. A prominent gentleman in New Zealand 111 not hint at any closer identification—when he came here some years ago did not bung his -wife and family with him, for he was not certain whether English was universal here, and whether we were sufficiently civilised to provide decent comfort for his dependents. THE ISLAND-WORLD OF THE PACIFIC. But my purpose to-day is to give a note or two upon “The Island-World of the Pacific,” a volume of journey note© written in Hungarian by Oscar Vojnich, a man of leisure who made a tour of New Zealand and the South Seas in the Christchurch Exhibition year. The volume was published in Budapest and translated into English. MASTER AND MAN. Every here and there the conservatism of the man of leisure comes to the surface. According to the tourist-writer’s idea, the encouragement of emigration by the better classes has resulted disastrously for them. “They seem to have overshot the mark by encouraging emigration, leaving thereby extremely wide discretionary powers in the hand© of small men. Had life begun with the ordinary economic apparatus, not with the search for gold, things would scarcely have reach this pitch. Iho spirit of gambling took such complete hold of the gold-diggers that they refused to undertake any other permanent work which promised a safe subsistence, except for exorbitant wages. So far there would be no harm done. But, as they have secured absolute liberty, not only in settling their own fates, but in the regulation of social order too, they are not satisfied with the extravagant rise in wages obtained. They are always demanding more; while their work is constantly decreasing in quantity, and is even superficial and bad ; they abuse their rights, as every good-for-nothing does, if he can take steps to defend his own interests. What will be the end of it all, in the home of liberty, where, even in case of extremity, there is no armed force (a standing* army in mind!) at the disposal of prudent and energetic men, for the protection of public order and public interests, can easily be imagined : it must end, sooner or later, in an economic crisis and later on in an upheaval.” Whether vou agree with this or not will depend upon which side you are on. It seems almost impossible to have an unbiassed opinion from either side. DINING WITH THE DRIVER! His finer susceptibilities received a shock wheri making the rounds of our Cold Lakes. One day lie was taking one of the trips about Queenstown —he generally liked to travel select, so had hi© own conveyance—and had dinner at a wav side hotel. Ho Mas shown into the sitting room until the meal was ready. I told the hostess to give my driver some food, and then began to peruse the visitors hook. In a short time the hostess came to announce dinner. At one end of the table an elderly long-bearded man of farmer-like appearance was sitting: my driver took his seat beside him, and, as one who feels quite at home, set to avork to eat —modestly, hut Avitli due dignity! I was at a loss what to do! . . . I must either eat the table d’hote or go without dinner, for in the South Island my lady of the kitchen was not likely to prepare two meals, and the waitress mas also not inclined to depart from tho usual arrangements. As I always respect women’s views. I remained where I was, and took the only feasible point of view. ‘ The driver, like all the white men of Australia and New Zealand, Mas apparently a well-read man, and had acquired sufficient propriety to make hi s presence at the table tolerable. He used both knife and fork in an unexceptional manner, and I could find no fault at all with his behaviour.” At other times this gentleman had t-o nut up with the same indignity. But at the Hermitage he absolutely rebelled. He saw that some of the rooms were unoccupied. so insisted on a private service, the penalty of non-compliance being a return by the next coach!

THOSE SERVANTS! Evidently we have no aristocracy here, for the upper classes seem to be included under the word plutocracy, whom he pities. By one farmer he was given a right royal welcome and dinner. “He did not stand on ceremony; at dinner he himself carved the joint, while his wife helped to wait upon the guests, as is the general custom in New Zealand. . . In a footnote he adds: “Everywhere in the world humane men are inclined to sympathise with servants; but in New Zealand we are driven to find a kind of pity for the plutocracy. With the conditions of wages so burdensome, and servants so idle, their existence is a constant struggle to keep what they have got. They are practically the only people who do any hard andi good work.” THOSE WORKMEN'. When crossing a branch of the Waimakariri the river was in flood, and stones were blocking the way. -t A swollen mountain stream had washed away the road leading down to and up beyond the same, and had rolled large stones in our path. On the opposite bank two navvies wore standing waist-deep in rubber topboots, in which any lord might sit comfortably while on the watch for wild duck. They must have been waiting for us, for there was absolutely no trace of their having done any work. I should have liked to have them treated to summary justice; but such a course was impossible in the face of the dictatorial supremacy of the labourers in this island colony.” Other quotations of a similar type could be given, but these are enough to show what our visitor thought of the result of democratic power in New Zealand; so I’ll close with two references to our cities—one to Dunedin, the other to Wellington. DUNEDIN. This, he tells us, is “ in a bay 17 mile© long.” When he arrived it was raining, it rained all the time he was here, and it was raining when he left, and yet a Dunedin barber greeted him with, “Isn’t the weather good?” There was a reason for the greeting. There had been a drought, and the ram was welcome. “ But it was no pleasure to us travellers, especially on a Sunday ! Towards evening, before paying a call, I whiled away the time at home reading ; then left the hotel to take a carriage,—but none is to bo found in Dunedin on a Sunday, for on this day everybody is taking a holiday—everybody goes on foot or uses some self-driven vehicle. Travellers like myself, who would like to appear in the drawing room in proper guise, are obliged to wade upto their ankles in mud to keep their appointments.” NERVE-WRACK ING WELL IN GTON. What do you think of this ? Or, rather, what do Wellingtonians think of it? “In New Zealand, where even in the towns life Is quiet and peaceful, the nervous system of the inhabitants is as a rule a healthy one; the only exception to this rule is afforded by the Wellingtonians. After two and a-half months’ wandering in New Zealand, whenever anyone told me he Mas obliged to repair his shattered nerves I knew at once he was a Wellingtonian. Such a state of things can only result from the noisy bustle of life in a capital.” A compliment to the business of our capital, but not to its nerve-sooth-ing powers ! There is a good deal more I should like to refer to, and some extracts are a little complimentary. He seemed astonished to find us so honest. Personal effects, luggage, etc., seem quite safe pretty well everywhere—even bicycles in Christchurch ! —by comparison, at any rate, with—shall' we say?—Hungary, where servants and workmen arc kept in wholesome subjection by a benevolent and beneficent despotism of aristocracy. Our names are evidently a stumblingblock to author or printer. Wo have Glenorch (Glenorchy), Waian (Waiau), Te Avamiitu (To Awamutu), Haven (TTawea). Rotoroua (Rotorua), and so on ; but I suppose we must pardon these. 'Flic book is well printed on calendered paper, and pretty well every other page has a reproduced photograph. But whether it is “some sort of guidance to person© contemplating a journey in the districts” ho traversed may be open to doubt.