A NEW ZEALANDER ABROAD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 5

A NEW ZEALANDER ABROAD.

POST-WAR OBSERVATIONS. ; AUCKLAND, February 28. Many countries not usually visited by the New Zealander abioad were included in the itinerary of Mr J; A. Peacock, of Auckland, who, with Mrs Peacock, returned to-day by the Marama from an extended tour abroad. Their trip embraced the United Kingdom, France, Austria, Germany, Czecho-Slovakia, Italy, Switzerland, India, Ceylon, Java, Burma, and other places in the East. Mr Peacock represented the Auckland Rotary Club at the World' Conference at Ostend. Mr Peacock was greatly impressed with the recovery of Germany after the war. He saw more luxury, more well-dressed people, and fewer crippled soldiers and beggars there than in other European countries “ Germany was indeed a revelation,” he added. “ Everybody seems to have work and everyone works long hours. I am convinced that the German people do not want any more wars.” The attitude of the great mass of the German people towards the Kaiser and Imperialism was indicated by the fact that all evidences of bis residence at the royal palace had been removed, save one. This was the oak table presented by the British Government to the Kaiser, and on which the declaration of war was signed. Otherwise the palace had been restored to the days when it was used by Frederick the Great. The German attitude towards the British tourist was quite friendly, the Germans being interested in the money one spend there. Everywhere Mr Peacock was asked how long he intended to stay and how much he intended to spend. evertheless his. impression of Germany was a pleasant one. A notable " post-war feature was that all kinds of sport were being encouraged, and many of the Germans were proving to be very fine athletes.l Apart from the physical benefits, he believed that this feature would help to create a greater understanding between Germany and other nations on the field of friendly battle.

“ Of all the countries that we visited which took part in the war Austria and Belgium seemed to be the most down and out,” continued Mr Peacock. “ There was a very bad state of affairs in Austria when I was there, and it seems inevitable that , much of the fertile land taken away from the nation after the war will have to be restored to it to enable the Austrians to carry on.”, Mr Peacock was amazecTat the constant talk of war during his tour through the Balkan States. Everywhere he went there were soldiers under arms, and all the railway stations were filled with soldiers. His impression was that the Balkan States were prepared to march into battle at a minute’s notice.