GLOWING EULOGY

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19633, 20 July 1935, Page 7

GLOWING EULOGY

NEW ZEALANDERS PRAISED r —r - • WELL READ, WELL BEHAVED. BRITISH IGNORANCE DEPRECATED United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received July 20, 1.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 19. “ I endorse Mr G. W. Forbes' (Prime Minister of New Zealand) regret that the members of the British Cabinet lack personal knowledge of Hie Dominions. Their ignorance is no more ■marked than concerning New Zealand," said Viscount Bledisloe, when speaking at the Empire Society’s summer school. " Yet,” continued the speaker, “the Empire’s future rests predominantly in their hands. If their knowledge is second-hand and scanty tho British proletariat and members of the House of Commons are still more ignorant, seriously threatening ultimate Dominion separation." Lord Bledisloe paid a tribute to New Zealand as a country, of nature’s ■gentle folk socially, and almost ideally democratic. Tho average standard of education was, he declared, very high. The reading of books and newspapers was more widespread there than elsewhere in the Empire. Even the poorest j were generally well informed of the | nation’s and world affairs. Courtesy j ■and good manners were universal. I Thero was very little swearing and I drunkeness, and a shabbily-dressed person was seldom seen.