PRAISE FOR N.Z.

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3796, 17 August 1936, Page 7

PRAISE FOR N.Z.

VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS SOUTH AFRICAN’S VIEWS We have been handed a copy of the Rand Daily Mail, by Mr W. T. Wright, of Stanley Road, in which Mr S. C. Black, a well-known South African mining figure, who recently returned from a visit to Australia and New Zealand, offers some interesting observations. Mr Black spent most of his time in New Zealand, and of the Dominion he says: “New Zealanders are unspoilt by wealth, their hotels are better than ours, and nowhere in South Africa is there anything to compare with the pastoral industry <of New Zealand. The Dominion has such a diversity of climate and scenery that on the whole I should say it is more beautiful than England or Scotland in its greenery, lakes and rivers. The principal object of my visit was to see how we, as a Dominion, compared with the Dominion farthest from Britain. Everyone speaking the English language can be proud of what has been accomplished there in less than a hundred years. The people of New Zealand are still mid-Victorian, but that is not to their disadvantage. They are a hospitable people, ready to help the stranger and guide him to see the best of their country. I found little difference between the average New Zealander and the average English-speaking South African.”

Of the Maoris, Mr Black said so far from dying out they appeared to him to be increasing under the care of the Government. Commenting on the return of the first Labour Government, he considered that the average New Zealander did not seem to be unduly perturbed by that fact, as they regarded the new Government as being a liberal one and not extremist.

“There is an increasing industry in dairying and sheep running,” he said. “As far as the eye can see for miles around the whole country seems to be one highly developed pastoral industry. Nowhere in South Africa have we anything to compare with it. New Zealanders are unspoilt by wealth and there is not that aggressive tendency to push you off the pavement. I left the Dominion with regret, feeling that I had spent a happy time among a very hospitable and fine people.”

Of the Australians he said: “It was rather a surprise to some of my friends when I told them that, a strip of country, 60 miles long, would some day be putting out a larger annual value of gold than the whole of the wool and wheat output of Australia. Previously I had always thought Edinburgh was the most beautiful city in the Empire, but I have come to the conclusion that after seeing Collins Street, Melbourne, that a more noble and dignified street is not to be found within the Empire. It can be said of Sydney what has been said of a good many United States cities—that after 4 o’clock there are no gentlemen about. Everyone at ‘rush’ hours seems determined to knock you down.”