LECTURES ON NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3958, 21 January 1930, Page 79

LECTURES ON NEW ZEALAND.

INTERESTED AUDIENCES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, December 10. Mr Joseph Feil, lecturer for the New Zealand Shipping Company, continues to do good work for the Dominion by his frequent lantern lectures in centres of population in the Mother Country. And he has also given good advice. For Instance, at Nottingham the other day, Mr Feil remarked: “There is no more chance of making a fortune in New Zealand than there is in any other country, but the man or woman who is careful and industrious and is willing to work can secure a comfortable living.” At Windsor. Mr Feil. leading up to the important subject of emigration to the dominions, left no stone unturned to convince his hearers that there were excellent prospects, provided always that they knew something of the work they undertook and were prepared to work hard and live frugally for a few years. Hi impressed his audience by saying that to-day New Zealand was the largest exporter of dairy produce in the world. The beauty of birds and flowers and bush were much admired, and slides of the Hot Lake district, mud volcanoes, and a geyser in action, held the attention of the audience.

At Uppingham, Mr 1. W. C. Tothill ("ho has been spending a year at Uppingham School 1 gave a lantern lectin e on ‘ New Zealand” to the members of the Boys Club. He had a very appreciative audience.

The Rev. 11. Allen Job, F.R.G.S., F.Z.S., had a full attendance at the Carnegie Hall, Harlesden. for his address on~“ A Tour of the Antipodes.” The organisers of the lectures are gratified to find an increasing attendance of young people. Mr Job. who was born and brought up in Australia, and who is now in charge of a church at Manchester, recently broadcast 24 travel talks from the Manchester Wireless Station. During his lecture beautiful views of Antipodean scenery were shown, and much information was given about tile towns, industries, forests, and imports of the three countries dealth with Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania.

FATHER MARTINDALE'S LECTURES.

Father C. C. Martindale, S.J., v.lio visited New Zealand last year, has been lecturing in schools, ' colleges, and public halls upon both Nyw Zealand and Australia since his return. He did so on December 4 in the Cathedral Hall. Westminster, to a large audience, using lantern. slides. Preliminary views of Wellington (including photographs of the Rugger teams of University and St. Patrick’s Colleges) were followed by 7 exquisite scenes—delightfully described—of coast, river and mountain scenery, and then by several s.ides of the Flock House boys in tia'inng. Father Martindale would like to see not onh several Flock Houses for New Zealanders themselves, but for England, which badly needs agricultural colonisation. He made it clear that it is his opinion that half the agricultural problem is psychological. Men and women content to live frugal lives not in towns can, even to-dav. make a living on the land.

He showed slides of a motor journey over the mountains down to Taupo, commenting on the amazing hospitality he

everywhere received and the free dignity and self-possession of those who generously offered it. He spent some time in Maihi, and spoke with high appreciation of the Maori courtesy and intelligence. The Catholic Maori, away from towns and in a natural setting, seemed to him a race of race of gentlemen. He showed slides of the volcanic zone, passing by way of Wairakei to Rotorua and the Arapuni dam. Though he touched only lightly upon graver problems, he alluded to several, including the tragic fact that the New Zealand birth rate is now one of the lowest in the world, a fact which is sufficient to endanger the whole future development of the islands.

Father Martindale first made acquaintance with New Zealanders during the war, and showed one slide of sheep shearing at Flock House simply to bring in the New Zealand pointed hat, which, said he. “ so much endeared itself to us all those y r ears ago.” He ended by expressing a hope that if New Zealand had been but a name, so far. to some of his audience, it would now be a more vivid reality to their imagination. “Do not suppose, said he, “ that it is simply a place of geysers, mud-volcanoes, and the like: there is in it a splendid race of men whom we may admire and even envy: a virility, a natural dignity, and a sense of equality based on mutual respect —equality on a high level, not a lowered one—an open-handedness which is not mere thriftlessness, a kindliness to which religious rancours should never give the lie.” A magnificent national future lay before them provided New Zealand life was true to itself and did not vitiate its chances by the importation of what is least good in America and Europe. Referring to the party for Flock House travelling to New Zealand in charge of a Salvation Army officer on the vessel when he himself was a passenger. Fathei .Martindale told how the officer in charge became engaged on board and so hao other calls upon his time, the result ■ a-ine that Father Martindale himself larg-ly took care of the boys. From some of them he still receives letters reporting their excellent progress.