TO TRADE WITH US

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 3 February 1923, Page 8

TO TRADE WITH US

CZECHO-SLOVAK IA TO-DAY. Dr Danos, the first Consular officer to represent the Czecho-Slovak! an Reyn bliv in the southern seas, in just about to return to Prague, its 1 capital, after serving three years in Australia- He intends to spend two or three months in New Zealand, asking the ;>eople he meets if they will still buy from the new Republic, they ally, the glassware and porcelian of Bohemia, which they formerly purchased from Hungary, and if they wilt 00-operate ■ ,ith him in arranging means of inter- ■ hanging some of the Dominion’s naw materials for manufactured articles ■from the new Republic, their ally, the much and such of them as will not interfere with the colonial predilection rer British goods. “Your students will know us better if I tell them that we comprise the historical kingdom of Bohemia, with the countries of Slovakia and Buasinia, which were formerly known as Upper Hungary. We belong to one of the Insrtoric nations of Europe, which never gave up its claim for independence, of which its perjurious kings', the Hapsburg Emperors of Austria, strove to deprive them. One thousand years of Czech or Bohemian history record a continuous struggle against Germanisation. The heroes of our nation, the famous church reformer, John Huss, who lived in the early part of the 15th century, the great educationist, John Amos Comenius, and the first president of the Czecho-Slovak Republic. Dr T. G. Masaryk, a great philosopher and statesmen, -were all spiritual leaders in the people’s fight against the German and absolutistic oppression.” In perfect English, the visitor told how his countrymen, members of the great Slav race, always vigorously opposed the Hapsburgs’ alliance with Germany, and, from the beginning of the Great War did all in their power to weaken Austria-Hungary’s military and economic strength. The nation went through incredible sufferings and privations, wilfully inflicted! by the Austrians and the occupation armies during the war. Hundreds of thousands of conscripted Czecho-Sfovaks deserted to the Allies and formed the famous Czecho-Slovak legions, which in France, Italy, and Rush* helped the Allies to overthrow the German and Austrian impact. The ideals of democracy, personal 'liberty, and true Christian humanism were always the slogan of their struggle for liberty, and it was there ideals that brought them nearer and nearer to the Englishspeaking nationstof the world. “It may interest you to know that New Zealand has something of a niche in Czecho-Slovak literature ” said the speaker, diverging for the moment from his account of life and doings in his homeland. “A once very popular •Czech book was ‘Cenek Paclt: Wide World Travels,’ which recorded the impressions of Australia and New Zealand of Paclt, an honest, hard-working gem-cutter, whose adventurous, spirit carried him through all five continents. He spent many months on the gold fields of Canterbury and Otago, and was a keen observer of Nature and mankind. Another countryman of mine a naturalist and grammar school teacher, Joseph Korensky, visited New Zealand in 1900. He was for years renowned among his countrymen as a keen student of natural history and a writer of interesting books of travel. His account of his trip to the Antipodes, in two thick volumes, enjoyed a very well-deserved popularity. “Our country is half the area of yours, but we have 13 million people. It is democratic in spirit, mentality, and constitution. In the drafting of the Constitution, I can assure you from personal knowledge that the social laws of New Zealand were very closely studied. There are two Houses of Parliament, the Deputies and the Senate. Twenty-one years is the age limit for the franchise for the Chamber of Deputies, and twenty-six years for the Senate, whose members must be at least forty-five years of age. We have proportional representation,” he added, saying, with a twinkle in his eye, that he would not dwell on dwell on that asi>ect of the constitution, as ho understood it was somewhat contentions in New Zealand. There were 300 Deputies and 150 Senators, paid £5OO a year. The public debt was 309 millions sterling, at present rate of exchange. In every 25 people one was a •Magyar, six were Germans, and 18 Czecho-Slovakians. The two last-named parties formed the Opposition in Parliament, in which there were several women members. There are four and six-year intervals between elections. “The present Government is a coalition of the Nationalist forces, made about three months ago,” said Dr 'Danes. “Dr Benes, who. since the formation of jlit Republic three and a half years ago, was one of the most prominent statesmen of the small European States, was Prime Minister in the former Cabinet; now. he is Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr Svelha, the

leader of the Country Party, is now Prime Minister. Masaryk and Benes arranged, during the war, < meetings of the exiled statesmen of those now liberated nations. Very soon after the Peace Conference a close alliance of Czeaho-Slovakia, Roumania, and Jugoslavia was formed, making up the socalled. Little Entente. Later, Poland became very nearly attached to this important conference of nations for the preservation of peace in Central Europe. Between the four, there are 70 millions of population, and all are wonderfully rich in natural resources. Czechoslovakia is the best off, industrially, but all promise to he a very important factor in general development, and a sound guarantee against any development of new Imperialism. “German and Magyar intrigue is very vigorous against the States of the Little Entente. The German leaders are not assimilating, and do not wish to acknowledge the States created by the Peace Treaty, but the bulk of the German population behaves very loyally, knowing well that their economic development is more assured under the new Republic than it would be under the present reckless economic policy in Germany or Austria. These intrigues are getting some sort of a hearing in portions of the British and American Press, but I can assure you that the complaints of the Germans and Magyars are not at .all justified'. Their minorities in these States have have been far better treated than were the Czechs, Roumanians, and Serbians under Austria-Hungary. Their former position of privileged nanons makes it very difficult for them to acknowledge their present position. Their chief complaint arises out of the decision of the Republic—quite natural, you will agree —that education, in the main, shall follow Czecho-Slovakian ideals. Yet, of the four universities one is German, and! there are sufficient numbers ,of German schools and colleges. “Czecho-Slovakia has found it (necessary to maintain an arniy of 150,000,” said the visitor. “This army has provided means of education of youths who had had no opportunity of being schooled before. “Our international outlook is verv good, and we are looking forward to a continuance of the regime under which we have been able already, to make vast strides in civil, industrial, political, and social progress—further than any of us have dreamed in our Jives before.”