A PROSPEROUS NATION

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 51, 24 November 1926, Page 5

A PROSPEROUS NATION

JOURNEY THROUGH AMERICA

NEW ERA FOR MEXICO

A WELLINGTON MAN’S IMPRESSIONS The United States of America is more prosperous to-day than at any time in its history. Where a New Zealander would spend a shilling an American spends a dollar, and thinks nothing of it High wages in America are possible because, with a population of 120 millions, it is not necessary to go outside the country for a market.

This is the impression gained by Mr. Ditan F, McCabe, of Wellington, during a six-months’ tour 'f Hie western portion of the United States nnd Mexico, from which he returned on Monday. Mr. McCabe informed a Dominion reporter yesterday that he had visited Honolulu, Los Angeles, Deliver, Salt Lake City, Yellowstone Park, and San Francisco. Everywhere he bad found the American people most friendly and hospitable. Though their geography was a trifle weak, many believing that New Zealand was part of Australia, •they evinced a thirst for knowledge concerning New Zealand. "1 would advise every New Zealander when visiting America,” said Mr. McCabe, “to take a Year Book with him, as the Americans are athirst for information concerning the Dominion." Great Respect for British Justice. The Americans, Mr. McCabe declared, had the greatest respect for British justice. In their own country even the Judges had to be elected by the people, and this meant that politics entered into everything. In America law cases stretched into months which would be easily settled in New Zealand in a couple of days. Tlie Wellingtonian was enthusiastic regarding the charms of Yellowstone Park, whose thermal wonders, he considered, quite eclipsed anything to be seen at Rotorua. The “Emerald Pool,", the '“Morning Glory Pool,’’ and the “Washing Pool," all possessed exquisite beauty and charm. Then there was “The Old Faithful" geyser, which played every 65 minutes to the tick year in and year out. An added charm at Yellowstone Park was the bears, which were semitame, and encouraged to come around the hotels by garbage-pits being left for them to feed cut of. Mr. McCabe had the good luck to see half a dozen big “grizzlies” one day, while brown and cinnamon bears were quite common. Three thousand tourists visited Yellowstone Park each day during the threemonths’ season. America knew how io attend to the comfort of tourists, and their transportation system was a model of efficiency. Durin" the whole time he was in America he had never once had to go outside his hotel to book a train or steamer berth. This was all done by the porters at the hotels. The principal railway lines carried dining-cars, and every comfort was obtainable on the trains, down to barbers and boot-blacks. In Mexico. Mr. McCabe visited Mexico, and was much struck with the earnest desire of the present Government to improve the condition of the people. (Questioned as to the recent trouble which had occurred between State and Church in Mexico, Mr. McCabe said, as far as he could gather, this would speedily right itself. The Mexican Government had an ardent desire to improve the state of. Hie peon, and considered that if thev controlled education this end would be achieved. The Church in Latin countries usually had a say in politics, and this no doubt accounted for the Church’s objection to State control of education. A New Zealander appreciated the law and order which prevailed in the Dominion after a run through Mexico. . Though there was no security in Mexico when revolutions were of frequent occurrence, a saner spirit now prevailed. Still, however, the majority of the people carried firearms, for which permission had to he obtained from the Government. Every passenger train leaving Mexico City carried a guard of 24 soldiers. The country possessed rich soil, and was very rich in minerals. There was now. a population of 15 millions, and the country possessed ns good government as it had ever had. Innaowners were forced to improve their holdings, ns the law prevailed that peons could go upon any farm and cultivate land which was not being utilised. A good deal of manufacturing was done, and trading was derm principally with the United States. The Mexicans were a hanpy-go-luckv peonle, and could be self-suporting in such commo-

diticß ae hams, eggs, and poultry, but preferred to import these from the United States. A new era was dawning in Mexico, and foreigners now were not afraid to invest capital in the country. Mr. McCabe went down with an American, who had invested a million dollars in a brewery concern ,iu Mexico. Amongst the Mormons. The Wellington tourist visited Salt Lake City, and found the Mormons an industrious and law-abiding people There was a wonderful building in the city, which possessed perfect acoustic properties. This seated two thousand people, who were admitted free to organ recitals each day, which lasted for an hour. The belief that the Mormons were a polygamous race was quite erroneous. This was necessary when the Mormans were striving to hold then lands against hostile Indians, hut the practice hail been abolished manv yeats ago. The Mormons were a most tolerant people, and did not mind how people worshipped so long as they did not interfere with their creed. Ihe toman Catholic Church had a strong hold in Utah, but. broadly speaking, the Mormons made up about 70 per cent, ot the population of the State. Much as he enjoyed Ins tour through the States, Mr. MeCabe said that it wa. with a sigh of relief that Ins toot struck tile Wellington wharf. Ao country in the world. ’’ he declared, enjoys such genuine freedom from interference as New Zealand. ’