GREAT PROGRESS

Southland Times, Issue 20999, 4 February 1930, Page 11

GREAT PROGRESS

CANADIANS IMPRESSED. DOMINION’S GROWTH. “We have been vastly impressed with the extraordinary progress that has been and is being made by so young a nation as the Dominion of New Zealand. We understand that your total population ib a little short of 1,500,000, or about that of the City of Montreal; and yet, with this limited population, your energy and your initiative have performed things which to us are truly wonderful. We have been impressed with your highways, your railways, and your harbours; and have been greatly astonished at some of the magnificent schools we have seen in the course of our tour. We also like the warmth of the people here. They are much like ourselves in Canada; and everywhere we have been we have met with a hospitality that far exceeds everything we could possibly have looked for.” Such was the opening statement made by Mr Harry Westoby (hon. secretary of the visiting Canadian bowling team), when interviewed by an Evening Post reporter. Mr Westoby added that the whole of the party considered that the trip was well worth while. They had all been delighted with the scenic charms of the North Island, and were looking forward with keen anticipation to seeing those of the South Island. One thing that had particularly struck them with regard to the marvellous development of the country in so short a time was that all of it seemed to be on such sound lines; and that augured well for the future of the Dominion. “Our party,” stated Mr Westoby, “includes many prominent business men, and they have all come here with the object of seeing the country, and more especially to return the visit made by the New Zealand bowlers to Canada in 1928. “It is 32 years since I was in New Zealand last, and I have noticed very decided improvement and great progress in New Zealand,” said Mr Westoby. “The cities and towns are growing so, and I find them excellently planned . Napier is now a splendid town, and for its size Palmerston North is one of the best designed towns I know. I believe that the growth of your population must sooner or later induce manufacturers from the United States, Canada, and Great Britain to locate branches of their industries here. But, until your population reaches a certain figure, it must pay better, with our mass production in Canada, Britain, and the States, to export to New Zealand, rather than to attempt to, establish in this country factories which could only be run at least for a short period in the year. Huge New Zealand Steel Works Foreshadowed. “Personally, I have been greatly interested in the iron sand on the Taranaki beaches. We have a similar sand in various parts of Canada, where an effort has been made to smelt it. When the time arrives that the smelting of this sand is possible on a commercial scale, it is my opinion, from my many years of experience of the iron and steel business, that huge steel works will be erected on the West Coast of this North Island —works giving employment, to many thousands of hands. And those industries, in turn will be followed up by sister or kindred industries. I believe it is only a matter of time when you will have the manufacturing industries that you desire. “New Zealand butter is sold in the City of Guelph, where I live; and there, and, I believe, throughout the Dominion of Canada, it is looked upon as superior to our own butter. I should like to see some of the Petone and Kaiapoi rugs also sent to Canada, where I believe a ready market would be found for them in our department stores, as they are excellent in quality and reasonable in price. It is our hope that the trade between the two Dominions may grow, to the advantage of both peoples. Though our mission to New Zealand is a bowling one, our trip will cause us to return to Canada singing highly the praises of this very beautiful country; and no doubt the visit will be productive of good, inasmuch as many of us will afterwards be lecturing on New Zealand, and in that way we shall be able to disseminate throughout our respective localities our impressions of your country. Tremendous Climatic Change. “We have been much struck by your redpainted roofs in New,Zealand, a delightful touch of red amidst the prevailing green; also your great droves of sheep, and your marvellously intelligent sheep dogs. Your great thermal region—Rotorua, Taupo, and Wairakei—was also full of wonders for us. But what struck us most of all was the tremendous change in climate from what we had just experienced in our own Dominion. When the vanguard of our party left Toronto on December 6th, the temperature was 18 degrees below zero, and blizzard conditions prevailed during our three and ahalf days’ train journey to Vancouver, which city we found under snow. But a few weeks later wo came to a land full of beautiful flocks and so wonderfully green for midsummer that it seemed as though it could carry all the stock offering, and then some. It was a great marvel to us; and we have been received everywhere with such abounding hospitality that you have simply taken us off our feet. “We arc looking forward to our trip through the South Island, and wC shall leave New Zealand for Australia on February 10th next with very keen regret. “We are to play four rink games in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney, and in the vicinity of those cities. We cannot spare the time to go to Brisbane.”