U.S. CONSUL-GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 82, 7 April 1934, Page 10

U.S. CONSUL-GENERAL

CALVIN M. HITCH RETIRING IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ZEALAND [ Per Press Association. ] . WELLINGTON, April 6 After a little over three years as Consul-General for the United States in New Zealand, Air Calvin M. Hitch, accompanied by Airs Hitch, left Wellington to-night for Auckland. They are sailing by the Mariposa to-morrow for Los Angeles. Air Hitch will reach the retiring age of 65 in July next, and is returning to the States to have a holiday before his actual retirement. Mr Hitch said that he and his wife had greatly enjoyed their stay in New Zealand. He had found the Government officials courteous and obliging, and the people had been very kind and hospitable.

“I was surprised when I landed here to find that the country had made such wonderful development in the very short time since the first settlers came to Now Zealand,’’ said Air Hitch. “Your public roads are wonderful, and taking all things into consideration, tho development has been somewhat in advance of the population of the country. With your present do velopment, New Zealand could easily accommodate double or three times tno population you have, but these thing?, of course, will come along in tho ordin arv course of affairs.

“I was particularly interested to find New Zealand so well supplied with first-class newspapers. I think it remarkable that in a country of rhe size of New Zealand, and with the long distance you arc from the other centres of population, that your newspapers should be able to carry so much foreign news each day.” Mr Hitch said he also had been particularly impressed with the agricultural and trade journals in the Domin-