GLORIOUS NEW ZEALAND

Southland Times, Issue 19837, 7 April 1926, Page 5

GLORIOUS NEW ZEALAND

A STRIKING EULOGY. VICTORIAN VISITOR’S TRIBUTE. A striking eulogy of New Zealand —its scenery, its tourist resorts, its agricultural and pastoral resources, and its administration—was voiced by the Hon. R. F. Toutcher, M.IxA., Victoria, one time Minister of Education and Minister of Forests in the Government of that State, who left Wellington by the Marama for Sydney at the completion of a tour of the Dominion extending over several weeks. In an interview with a Dominion representative Mr Toutcher said he commenced his tour at Auckland and visited Rotorua, Wairakei and the thermal springs district generally, going to the Waitomo caves on his way down to Wellington. He found it difficult to find adequate language to describe the impressions he had received of the “Wonderland of the World.” The hot lakes district had proved an unending source of pleasure to him and were alone sufficient to stamp New Zealand as a country no one should miss an opportunity of seeing. Apart altogether from the benefits to be obtained by using the mineral baths, there were so many attractions in a comparatively narrow scope that time flew by before one realised that the insistent call of nature’s beauty and novelty were really not figments of the imagination. The glow-worm cave at Waitomo was a never-ending source of delight, and it was so beautiful that it must be classed amongst the greatest sights of the world. So far as the conveniences for getting about the country were concerned, Mr Toutcher said he was agreeably surprised with the roads—he had done a good deal of motoring during the trip—and he considered that they were wonderfully good. He really believed they were slightly better than in his own State of Victoria. He found the railways very comfortable, and he could not see how it would be possible to better them. The four cities—Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin—eo different from each other in many characteristics, were all attractive in their own way, and possessed a charm for the visitor which made a sojourn in them something worth while. While in the Rotorua district he made special visits to the planting operations which had been carried out there for years, and had been very much impressed by their success. If he could find any fault . about them at all it was that the breaks in the plantations were hardly wide enough to allow of control in the event of fire, an opinion he had gained from his experience of forests in Victoria, although he must admit that such a danger was far more likely to occur in Australia than in New Zealand. Judging from what he had seen the Government here was doing excellent work in the direction of afforestation. He was favourably impressed with the condition of the pastures, especially when it was remembered that he had left Australa towards the end of what could well be called a drought, and it was exceedingly refreshing to find that there was no evidence of anything of that sort right through the country. TRADE RECIPROCITY. Speaking on the trade relations between Australia and New Zealand, Mr Toutcher considered it a pity that the two countries were not more in touch with each other. It must be beneficial for the 6,000,000 people in Australia to become customers for New Zealand goods wherever it was possible for them to be, while the 1,000,000 or so of New Zealanders would, he felt sure, find it advantageous to use Australian produce and manufactures to a much greater extent than had been the case in the past. If he could do anything in the direction of reciprocity the people here could be assured that he would leave no stone unturned in that direction. Nothing of that sort had come within his sphere of operations in the past, but he formed very strong opinions as the result of his visit. Referring to the Exhibition, Mr'Toutcher said he was most favourably impressed with the exhibits, the arrangements, the quality of the goods shown, the spectacular attractions and the amusements provided for the large number of people who were attending. He had never seen anything better. It was a show worthy of the great name the Dominion hAd obtained in the comity of nations. “MISSIONARY FOR NEW ZEALAND.” Summing up his impressions briefly, Mr Toutcher said he was charmed with the of our scenery, he was deeply impressed with the apparently inexhaustible agricultural and pastoral resources of the country, he believed that even if one could not live here there was no place where it would be more advantageous to visit again and again, and it seemed to him to be governed with wisdom, perspicacity, and vision. He had no hesitation in saying that it would be a pleasure to hm to sound the praises of a glorious Dominion and to advise all he knew that they did not know what they were missing when they did not make it part of their life to come here for health, delightful experiences and examples well worth imitating. He was going back as a missionary for New Zealand, and he could honestly say he had enjoyed every moment of his trip through the Dominion.