FROM THE CHINESE POINT OF VIEW.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1925, 6 December 1913, Page 8

FROM THE CHINESE POINT OF VIEW.

e _ IMPRESSIONS OF -NEW ZEALAND. A Chinese correspondent forwards the following extract from a letter to his countrymen: — The country in which I am at present living is tho Dominion of Now Zealand. It- consists of a group of islands m the South Pacific Ocean, about 1000 miles south-east of Australia. Tho most-' important two arc called the North Island and the South Island respectively. The North Island is SOO miles long, and has an area of 44,4(33 square miles. Tho South Island is a little longer, and has an area of 08.525 miles. Tho two together arc a little smaller than Great. Britain and Ireland. The population at the census of 1911 was 1,003.468, of whom 47C,558 wero females. These figures include the Chinese ('2G3O). but do not include the Maoris (Natives of tho land), who number 40,814. Even combined with Australia tlio population does not exceed 0,000,000." Yet the population of the city of Loudon abne, according to the last census, was as great as jOOjOOOI The revenue and Expenditure ol the country for tlio years 1910, 1911, and 1912 were as follow: —

1910. 1911. IM2. Revenue 9,238,251 10,297,02-3 11,061,161 Expenditure ... i0,3-it,3b; The value of exports and imports for tho same years arc as follow:— 1910. 1911. 1912. £ £ £ Exports 22,18-0,509 J9,CSS.m 21.77 C.581 Imports 17, C£1,533 15.555.2V3 20,976,574

No doubt the country grows more prosperous every year. But wo must remember that it is somo considerable distance from what wo may term the outside world. For example, it is about seven weeks' journey irom England, and a live weeks' journey from tho capital of tho United States of America. Even tlio . great Panama Canal when it is opened wiil havo little actual effect in shortening the journey. Moreover, New Zealand has desired most, strongly for protection a.W the policy of exclusion, both of which policies well-informed and deep-thinking people advocate lor.Continental countries only, such as America and Canada —e-.cn China. But somo of these have already begun to doubt tho wisdom of a policy whieu has brought about great extremes in the social world, and caused great' social upheavals—a policy which flatly contradicts their so-called democratic ideals. At least we may bo sure that it would in no way be suitable or profitable for island countries, such a-s Britain, which denend on foreign food and imported materials generally to apply tho policy of protection. ... The reason for the policv of the New Zealanders may bo tiiat_ they laoour under peculiar economic conditions, which oven their politicians iind . -' I, ° moans of remedying, and that t- ilc y therefore adopt this, plan as tlio best available. Tho foreigner hnds it cxcced-1 inglv difficult to understand the New. i Zealand vicwpoi.it, especially wnen he considers lior peculiar geographies* tion, which renders it imperative thai she should not blindly follow tho example of other lands, wheso positions arc so vastly different. Just try to icalico the fast that a journey from England to America can be made m nyo davs or so; while that from England to Australia or New Zealand takes several weeks, thus entailing a greater expenditure of time, labour, and money. IE vou cannot rdaliso this, then undertake the journey yourselves 1 "Unfortunately, 'however, the people of this country to not travel much. They arc proud cf their own"country, tfnd its great-exports and imports, and prefer to receive now inventions and ideas safely at l |nllic - . Docs not tho proverb'say: "hat is ciio man's food is another tiiati s poison?" Is it not hard, then, to understand why certain countries, ignoring their own' social conditions, do not attempt to form' ideas and institutions, for themselves, but are content-to lollow blindlv those of other lauds, and tlio result is that thov are maimed by compression, like a Chinese Jady's,foot. The waees svst-em which :s" tn vogue hero, is adjusted by law. in order to enable tho people to bear their burdens the . better. But, unfortunately, in almost, all political and philosophical theories, as in persons, success discloses taults and infirmities which failure tuignt havo concealed from observation. The _vcSttlt has been that the wages are hish— probably the highest in_ tho world, hut the cost of living has risen corrcspond'"l'liofio I shall b© pardoned if I remind vou of our phil.isonhcr Chunk's metaphorical story of 'Three in the Morning " "A -ertain keeper ol mointeys said that with regard to their morning rations each monkov was to have three chestnuts in the morning and toui at night. But the monkeys were very angrv on hearing this, bo the kcewr said'that thev might have four m tho morning and three at menu lllls arrangement tliev were- all well pleased. The Ertu-'il liunibcr of chestnuts, remained the same, but there was an #<ki)tation to tho likes and disl'lf* ->t those concerned. Such is the principle of putting oneself "into subptctive relations with externals."

One of tho best concerts jet given to tho "specials" in the Garrison Hall a-i Bucklo Street was that tendered by the newlv-iormed New Zealand Natives Association last evening. All the performers were New Zsalandcrs, who by their talent showed that tho native-born are well able to hold their own as entertainers. Among those who contributed to tho programme was dimirmtive Ccci. Haines, who was recalled threo times for her clever recitations. „ During tho evening Mr. I'redk.Townsend, chairman of- the Entertainment Committee, delivered a patriotic speech on behalf of the. Natives' Association, and gave full credit to the men who Had come from bush and iarm to keep the port open, and the country free from the intolerable dominant* of a sccuou or the community, who, without a tl " mato grievance, had threatened to bring ruin and disaster on all classes ol tu the first week of the strike B Shed at the entrance lo the yuoen o Wharf has been used as quitters for tne st .John Ambnbuco nurses, and a re* Fre'shment bullet for tm> 'specials. As tho work on tho wl,art has ™v«aehcd m-ioiiraHv norui.il ronditicus, the is needed" for the storage of car 8 0, am tho "weoials, io whom it j.a.< jl.in-ot liceii a home, are to be t|«wlored the ladies' waitnm-romn ol tho tl.uim'i" Board's office built inc. wlicr< the. hospitality will > dispensed by '" vouug ladies, wlw have (wall others iudiffoUt place••) dono such good work in this direction durim; tho stin«. V shovtaiio of labour on the Nelson wlnrves yesterday (says a Press Assoc,a?ion tclcuranO led io ot professional :»rn! oflieo men benni cal Ird ont to assist with cargo, whitn tl'.Cj did t.ll tho "rush was over.

.n, p ,\"cw Zealand Lean and Mercamilo \J£x' Company, Md. advert.* entries : 4eivbd for their AYaikaiiao stock sale, which wiU be hold on iJceeinbor n. Vn AY and G. TnnibnU ami Co, fla'tc-Jau'ies Macintosh and 'Co.) will held flieir Masterton slock s;a e a;. AVaipoua yards oil December 10. Entries are adU The Zoological Society have received permission to take iip a collection at Xew'own I'arl; on Sunday afternoon, when Jupp's Hand will plav a send pro'Maiiimo of music the .•oheetion will lie devoted to the ol beavers ami eagle?. The Kasthoc.riK' I'err.v week-end timetable will bl' found advertised elsewhere. The "fares have now bceu reduced. Thc'Varton District A. and !'. As.-oeh-tion will Isold I heir second uj-and ajmiiai show at tb«, Mai'tvJi) Jucki-y UuV* si omuls uii 1 vbmari 11»