VISIT TO AMERICA

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1932, Page 13

VISIT TO AMERICA

STUDENTS' CONFERENCE

NEW ZEALANDER'S TRIP

, Mr. John Platts-Mills, one of the New Zealand Rhodes Scholars for 1928, has returned to England from the United States, where "he was a delegate from Oxford to a British and American conference on disarmament, arranged, by the Universities League of Nations Union and financed by tho' Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The conference was held at' Michigan University, 28 representatives' of the universities of Great Britain taking part. Mr. Platts-Mills writes most appreciatively of the kindness and hospitality received, and of the warm-hearted friendliness aud charm of the American people. After a record trip on the Majestic, the visitors spent a few days in New York, being welcomed there by the Mayor and also by tlie president and professors of Columbia University. A week v df debate' and social, gatherings of all kinds followed at Michigan, with, representatives of various univer^ sities in the States, after which the delegates were entertained , for another "week at Washington, where they met many interesting people prominent in public life, and visited- places of historic and general interest. On returning to New York, further, entertainment followed, including a reception by tho English-Speaking Union at the Long, Island home of Mrs, Davidson, widow of a great man in banking, partner of Pierpont Morgan. Bootlegging is referred to by Mr. Platts-Mills as "a most fantastic .thing." "It is only that decent, respectable peoplo are so engrossed with business that, they remain unperturbed in the face of the most spectacular outbursts of gunning. Only to-night.a bootlegger has been caught after shooting two men and wounding two-others. He is described as having stood over the body of his victim, and pumped three more shots into him: three men opened fire on him, but he dealt with them as abpve, and made a shaken get-; away, i Now, having been arrested, he has only to buy off the Court—a rather easier matter than shooting down its agents. He will probably get off on. an alibi, as dead men tell no1 tales'and wounded men" couldn't ' be.certain. An extraordinary land! They ,observe the most comprehensive and conventional traffic laws, „. and k motor accidents, are comparatively rare." Mr. Platts-Milla: had opportunities of attending the Law Courts, hearing the trial of fourteen- lawyers- charged with offering bribes; to the Court Prosecutor; and also of being present, at .the in-; vestigation "in camera" into the question of graft in municipal matters in New York. "The ramifications of the flatter are -very widespread!, involving not only the members of the Corporation but relatives and,connections, who Have been co-opted as directors of various firms doing business with.the municipality, and who in'return are expected to pull strings, as desired." .

After the official part of. the trip came several, delightful private visits, including one to Mary Borden, the novelist, in her beautiful home at Camden, on the coast of Maine, and one to Mr. • and- Mrs. ; Herbert Knox at Peru, Vermont. ': ' .'•..'

Mr. Hatts-Mills completed his three years at Oxford in; July, having taken his B.A. degree with' first-class honours and his B.C.L. with second-class honours. He was awarded an; entraneo scholarship to the Inner Temple for three years. Immediately upon his return from America he established himself',in rooms in> Clifford's Inn, one: of the oldest of 4he' original hostels attached to the.Temple, to read for his filial Bar examination in: December.'.