AN AMERICAN VISITOR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10684, 3 February 1913, Page 2

AN AMERICAN VISITOR.

NEWSPAPER MAN IN NEW ZEALAND.

MR MILTON M'RAE INTER- • VIEWED.

Mv Milton A. M'Rae, president of the Scripps-M'Rae League of newspapers, on© of the largest lines of "daily newspapers in the. United States, has been touring through New Zealand lately observing jts people, its laws and ite social conditions. He was seen by a "Lyttelton Times" reporter yesterday, and frankly expressed his admiration for the; country. "New Zealandejes," he said, "represent one fifteen-hun-dredth part of the world's population, but New Zealand is one of the mpat discussed countries in the world on account of its progressive legislation. Woodrow Wilson and RooseVelt boijh gave the American people prograrome.B that were more radical than any known before, and most of the things they stood for are already in this country. The introduction of legislation providing for a minimum wage, old age pensions, a general form of insurance, and general municipal ownership of. public utilities will come. It is only a matter of time." "The Panama Canal question is large and divided.. Mr Knox is right when he says that the tolls ougjvt to be the same to all nations, including our own, and that if the treaty provided for that the United States should aooept it. Mr Knox rightly argues that if there is any honest difference of opinion on the point' it .should be arbitrated impartially, and I haven't any doubt that it will be arbitrated if necessary. The new Administration will have to settle that, matter, and I don't think that arbitration will be necessary." Dealing with the question of reciprocity between the Fnited States and Canada, Mr M'Rae said that he had made speeches supporting the movement. Some Canadians had written to him saying that he was trying to deliver them into the hands of the United States, and some United States farmers had accused him of attempting to rob them of their farms. Opinions were divided on the question in both countries. All the talk of the annexation of Canada by tho United States was political "bunkum." Canada was taking from 60,000 to 70,000 people out of the United States very year. They were going into the north-Avestern provinces.' There was an imaginary dividing-line, marked by Customs officers, not soldiers. They really had nothing to fear from reciprocity. Mr M'Rae said that with Mr Raphael Herman, of Detroit, he had left America after voting at the elections. Their intention was to see the English-speaking countries _of the world. " I am "writing a series of letters on what I see in ray travels," he added, " and I can assure you that I will write more about New Zealand than any other country." "I have motored about your city, and I havo been wonderfully impressed by its beauty," lie continued. _ " I have travelled through all countries of the world, excepting only Persia and Siam, and I have no hesitation in saying that Christchureh is the _ most beautiful city I have seen. It is nob mere flatten-, but my honest opinion. Many people had told me that Christchurch was English, but it is more beautiful than the English towns. Tins is a fine country all through. I have been looking in vain for the man who sticks you up to beg sixpence. You have no poverty here. The whole dominion is prosperous, and as far as I can judge your city here is solidly prosperous, "too. I was interested in the Labour meeting held to-night. # The whole position in New Zealand is remarkably interesting, and I had heard that tin' Socialists arid Unionists had nnitrd. hi pcupie <>» c.k- cuu:: , .. ,, y ioi.ud* like a iwrauta."