MR ROBERT BELL

Southland Times, Issue 20045, 6 December 1926, Page 8

MR ROBERT BELL

ELECTED PRESIDENT. PRESS CONGRESS OF THE WORLD. London, October 20. Mr Robert Bell, of Christchurch, who was elected president of the Press Congress of the World at Geneva, has returned to London. He speaks most highly of the good work done at the great Congress, which was held at both Geneva and Lausanne. Papers were read and addresses delivered by many eminent journalists, including the editor of Le Matin, Paris, a member of the editorial staff of La Parisienne, Mr H. J. J. Sarjent, of the North American Newspaper Alliance, London. Mr Guy Innes, Melbourne Herald, Mr Frank Glass, of the Star, at St. Louis, America, and others. The large delegation of about 125, representatives some twentyfive countries, were hospitably entertained by the Mayors of Geneva and Lausanne to ' trips on Lake Geneva, luncheons, afternoon teas and other functions. Since returning to London, the delegation waited upon the Hon. J. G. Coates, Prime Minister of New Zealand, at the Hotel Cecil, on the night of his arrival. Messrs Selig, of Christchurch, Dr Walter Williams, Dean of Journalism, Missouri University, and the president, stated that the intention of the Congress was to hold their next series of meetings in New Zealand should the executive of the Congress so decide. Mr Coates was very sympathetic to the idea, and stated that he would be delighted, if they came, as a body or as individuals, to receive ! them in New Zealand. In his speech at the great dinner to the overseas Prime Ministers on October 20, Mr Coates referred with pleasure to the likelihood of the Congress choosing New Zealand for its next meeting place. In an interview with our London correspondent, Mr Bell said: —“While on the • Continent, I visited in the month I was there eight different countries and encountered eight monetary currencies and eight Customs barriers. From the time I landed at Ostend right down through Belgium, Alsace-Lorraine, Switzerland, and then cn to Austria, Hungary, Czecho-Slovakia, Germany, and finally Holland, I was greatly interested to notice that everywhere I went the people were working. Speaking practically, I may describe what I saw as a continent at work. The whole of the country through which I passed was being intensely cultivated. Every acre of land was under cultivation, every acre of land was producing. So also with the industrial sides of those nations. Factories were in full operation everywhere. Indeed many of them seemed to have been newly erected, and there were evidences of full working activity everywhere. In field and in factory, everyone was working. That spirit of willingness to work must eventually tell in the progress of those countries and the well-being of their peoples.” Comparing the travel system on the Continent with that of New Zealand, Mr Beil said:—“The people of New Zealand have, they imagine, a perennial source of dissatisfaction in the ferry service which links up the two islands. They have the idea firmly enrooted in their minds that the Union Steamship Company, which operates that ferry service, charges them stiff fares for the service which it renders them. My experience is that they may travel further and fare a great deal worse. I came across from the Hook of Holland to Harwich and then on to London, and I found that not only was the service immeasurably dearer, but had not the comforts and little attentions which were given on the ferry service between the two islands in New Zealand. I had bought my ticket in Berlin, which entitled me to transportation across the North Sea from the Hook to Harwich, and which also entitled me to sleeping accommodation. However, I desired that I should have a deck cabin to myself. I telegraphed for this, and was fortunate enough to get it, but I found that this additional accommodation cost me twenty-six shillings for a passage of eight hours. The extra charge for the same cabin on the Maori would have been five shillings. In New Zealand the passenger finds in the smoking room biscuits and cheese put on as a matter of course. In the morning he receives a cup of tea and a slice of bread and butter and an apple or an orange, perhaps both. All these extras he gets free gratis and for nothing. On the Hook of Holland to Harwich run, I went into the smoking room, but there was no bread and cheese; in he morning, no tea and fruit. No doubt I could have had all these things, but I should have had to pay for them. The people of New Zealand, therefore, who complain about the Union Company, should, before criticising that company and its fine service, travel further afield, and they would come to understand that they are being very well served indeed.”