“N.Z. IS GLORIOUS COUNTRY,” SAYS SIR HARRY LAUDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18769, 27 May 1929, Page 7

“N.Z. IS GLORIOUS COUNTRY,” SAYS SIR HARRY LAUDER.

GREAT ADVANCEMENT NOTICED BY VISITOR. Enthusiastic praise of New Zealand was voiced by Sir Harry Lauder in an interview last evening with a representative 1 of the "Star.” . “If New Zealand was situated within a thousand miles of Great Britain it would have a population of thirty millions,” he said. Sir Harry stated that since his visit here four years ago, he noticed considerable advancement throughout the Dominion. He considered New Zealand had made remarkable progress, and was impressed with the building activity in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The smaller towns in the North Island, Hastings, Hamilton and Palmerston North, were all making rapid progress. “SEE NEW ZEALAND FIRST.’ “My advice to New Zealanders is to * see New Zealand first,’,” said Sir Harry. “ Yours is a glorious country. It may be equalled in some parts of the world, but never surpassed. Queenstown is the most beautiful and attractive place I have ever seen.” Asked whether New Zealand scenery bore any resemblance to that of Scotland, Sir Harry thought that New Zealand scenery was wilder and more extensive than that in Scotland. The majestic hills were more attractive, and the mountains and lakes possessed a beauty all unto themselves. Sir Harry was keen in his praise of the hospitality of New Zealanders, particularly inhabitants of the backblocks. He stated that he had renewed friendships with several of his “ old cronies ” SUMNER A BEAUTIFUL RESORT. Christchurch was a likeable and quiet city, possessing much of the charm and dignity of English towns, he said. He had been to Sumner yesterday afternoon, and considered that he had never seen a prettier spot. In Sir Harry’s opinion, New Zealand audiences are similar to those in London, Liverpool and Glasgow. He had never noticed any coldness, but rather thought people here were easy to attract, provided the entertainment -was good.

“ A fisherman’s paradise ” was the term applied to New Zealand by Sir Harry. His main reason for his tour of the Dominion was to fish, he said. He had met with some splendid sport fishing for rainbow trout in the Waikato River. GOOD HOTEL ACCOMMODATION. That the hotel accommodation of New Zealand was excellent in every way was the opinion of Sir Harry. He considered the accommodation exceptionally good in view of the size of the country, and he could not understand any criticism except from those who expected the hotels to be on the same scale as the leading American and European hotels. Sir Harry also praised the railways and the general comfort of the travelling arrangements in the Dominion. “ Your service-drivers are one of the wonders of the world, and the way they handle the service buses on mountain roads is amazing,” he said. Sir Harry will be in Christchurch for only a week. He will leave then for Dunedin and Invercargill, after which he will tour the country towns. He leaves New Zealand on June 21, going to Australia for three or four weeks. Then he will make a lengthy tour of the United States and Canada.