N.Z. Seen As Little World In Itself

Chronicle (Levin), 30 December 1949, Page 7

N.Z. Seen As Little World In Itself

AUCKLAND, Dec. 28. Ne\v Zealand is seen as "that amazing, fascinatihg country — a little world 'in itself ' ' by' Mr. JL S. Hecht, an enunent. American linancier and a tormer " president of the American Baniters' Assoeiation in a printed coi lection of letters which has been given private circulation in the United States, hvlT. iaecht visited the Dominion in 8ep.Leniber in the course of. a round:thoworld flight across the Pacifie, tlie urient and Europe. With. at least oOG, 000 . miles of flying to his credit, Mr. Hecht describes himself as a veteran tra,yeller wlio ask* many - questions of all the people he meets, but who does not pretehd tibase opinions on carexuJ study or pro • found research. In spite of this care tui reservation, New Zeaiandevs wu find few, if any, errors of fact in h!.-thoroughly-compiled notes. "Little World In Itself" After emphasising the beauty of New

Zealand 's cities and countryside an'. discussing his day-to-day travels through the two islands, - Mr. Hechi suggested that tlie Dominion was, in fact, a little world in itself. lt was, perhaps, this very insolation that had made its people so independent and self-reliant and, at the same time," so s.ociable and hospitable to visitors who came to their friendly shpres. " Economically, the country is stUl tied very closely to Britain and it has contracts under which most of its. extenMive primary exports go to the United Kingdom," he stated. "Nevertheless, l am convinced that in the ypars to come there will develop a muc.h eloser business relationship between New Zealand and the United Btates and that there are amazing possibilities for inereasing both imports and e*. ports between our respeetive coun tri.es. ' ' There was also every reason to expect that, with the constantly iinproving facilities for fast transport, there would develop an inereasing tourist trade and that more and more Ameri cans would "follow the sun" to New

Zealand. Certainly, "there were few places one could visit that offeved a greater variety* of seenery and climate or a better opportunity for a healthful and interesting vacation in surround •ngs )f great charni and beauty. Good Internal Travel "Wherever 1 went in New Zealaad,

the allotted time seemed too short an-.l I wanted to reinain longer, " Mr. Hecid says. ' ' Moreover, internal ;• travel is surprisingly good and conipares favoin ably with alniost any of the weil patronised countries in other parts ot the world. ' ' The State, railways furnished up to date rail service with adequate sleeper accomiuodation, the highways were .-.x "cellent for motoring and air transpori was frequent and efficient.. Hotel accoiumodation was not up to American atandards, but it was fairly adequate . > i i ^putlessly clean. Discussing tlie social and political life of the Dominion, Mr. Hecht cou siders that l.abour exerted great power, not only in enforcing its demands for the welfare and proteetion of its meinbers, but also in shaping the economic policies of the whole Government. A change of Government could not undo or mdteriallv change many of the socialistic practices whic.h were now in effect, alth.mgli it would uudoulitedly slow down the tempo of the mar-n toward nationalisation and sociali-=a tion. n IM. n ■■HBIIIIM IIMflTIW- T^"