LIFE IN SOUTH AMERICA

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXII, Issue 58, 6 May 1924, Page 4

LIFE IN SOUTH AMERICA

PARAGUAY AM) ARGENTINE. With an experience extending over twelve years, Mr J. 11. Ross, a New Zca lander, who is on a brief visit to Stratford, gave a reporter of the Stratford Evening Post some interesting information regarding South America. Paraguay, where he lived for some time, said Mr Ross, is a vast country with an estimated.population of a million. The inhatitanta are of a mixed race, chiefly descendants of- Spanish and Ind'ans. Of British people, there are a number of Scotch, but Spanish largely predominate. South America can hoast of some mighty rivers, notably, the Amazon and the Parana, the latter being 2500 miles long. The river Plate, too, is ninety miles across from Monte Video :.o, Buenos Aires, and on it some beautiful vessels are afloat. With regard, to railways, far better facilities are provided than in New Zealand. The gauge is wider, and every accommodation provided for all classes, including sleeping and dining earn. When it is remembered that the, Central Argentine railway runs through a vast plain of about 530 miles without a single hill it will be evident that the construction of railway lines in such a country is comparatively easy. With regard to climate, tlus varies somewhat, but in Paraguay it is temperate and although the country is not quite in the tropical area, there is a good deal of hat weather, generally about 100 degrees of heat in the summer season. A good many thunder-showers are also experienced. On the question of internal troubles, Mr Ross said the position was somewhat difficult to explain, but they were always political, and were due largely to the tempei'amental nature of the people, who were rather excitable, due probahly to the influence of Spanish blood and intermarriage with the Indians, therefore, possessed of fighting tendencies. The reason for the revolutionary spirit was that there was one political party (called the governing party) in power, but often with two or three political parties outside, and the latter were revolutionary in their aim s and tried to overthrow the Government.

Asked if he thought much trouble was likely to arise in the future, Mr Ross said thai he did not think so. In the Argentine Republic there was much foreign capital, and it was twenty years since there was any serious trouble. He did not think anything of a very troublesome nature would arise.

On the interviewer inquiring about agriculture, Mr Ross said that in the Argentine the vast wheat growing areas could gro*v enough wheat to supply the world. On the Argentinian vast plains, cattle-raising was carried on to an enormous extent. Those who engaged in ploughing ana| purely agricultural work were cipally Italians, who were workers. Dairy farming was on the increase in the Argentine, and greater attention was being paid to the breed of shesp and cattle. Only the best was wanted, and they were quite prepared to pay a good price for high claSg animals. As in other parts of the world, horses were being ' replaced by the motor car, which was in growing use everywhere. Are there many Americans engaged in business there?—Yes, said Mr Ross. The Americans have largo interests in freezing works, where r-.ir.iLers of people are employed. In Buenos Aires, with a population of two million, there are upwards of 40,000 British people who are principally engaged in business houses and banks, while most of the railway employees are Britishers. Speaking of business prospects, Mr Ross remarked that there were splendid openings in the country for" trained business men with a good knowledge of accountancy. Such men could command good salaries, provided they had a knowledge of Spanish, but he would not recommend anyone to go to a country which was not under British rule. In conclusion, Mr Ross said Mie people of New Zealand had much to be thankful for.