NO TIME FOR HUMBUG

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 32, 6 August 1936, Page 4

NO TIME FOR HUMBUG

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, July 11. Lady He wart has written -to "Tha Times" expressing her pleasure at reading Mr. Alan Mulgan's reply to an English tourist who criticised the culture of New Zealanders. ' f. ' ' Lady Hewart pointed out the fleces* sity for a traveller to spend a considerable time in the country before he can appreciate the character' of She New Zealanders. . " "They are essentially shy, and perhaps their modesty is responsible rfor their care to avoid any pose--which might earn for them the terms 'pedantic' or 'cultured,'"'she writes.- , "Their standard of education-is equal to any in the world,_and some of the/ finest 'types of youth' are- to- be .found in their universities. The" average New Zealander has, not much time 16 pursue fantastic sociabilities, 'and.has. not much glib -conversation, -upon -subjects about which he has only a superficial knowledge. If he . does-not known a ' Gainsborough from a Reynoias7lie feiys so: if he does riot'know .the difference between Homer and Horace, he admits it. He reads what. he -likes.-usually thoroughly. He forms his own opinions and is not concerned'to' join 'the flock who follow like sheep '■the"E6rd Tomnoddy of the mopent in the"world of literary criticism." v " ' ' "", "The tourist unfortunately missed the chief asset of the New Zealand man. He is essentially sincere andohas no lime whatever for humbug."' " >-