VISITOR FROM SIAM

Evening Star, Issue 20053, 19 December 1928, Page 12

VISITOR FROM SIAM

AH INTERESTING COUNTRY RAPID DEVELOFMEHT An interesting visitor to Wellington during last week-end was Mr N. Pramode, of Siam. Ho’is just completing a brief tour of the dominion before returning to bis native country. Talking with a ‘ Post ’ representative, ho said that probably—almost cer-taiiily-—more was known in Siam about Now Zealand than was known in Now Zealand about Siam. “1 expect most of you think of Siam as a, foreign country in a ■•emote part of the world, full of coloured people and still in a state of semi-barbarity. Certainly wo may not loom large on the horizon of world politics, and certainly we are coloured, but wo are civilised, ami are in many ways as progressive as you are.” The country of Siam', ho pointed out, was really under-populated for its sizo, having only some ten millions of people. Tho peasant proprietor was tho backbone of the country, agriculture and mining being tho two main industries. Up-to-date agricultural machinery was not very much in uso as yet, ploughing in wot rice fields not being an easy job for machines. Scientific agriculture, however, was bound to come as more of the country was opened up. Increased production wai-s as essential to the welfare of Siam as it was to other countries.

Siam, Mr Promod'e pointed out, was a relatively, poor country, and had not as much money as it would like to spend on development. There were already in operation over 1 ; 600 miles ot State-owned railways, which incidentally paid, and these were being extended. A vigorous reading policy was also being pursued, and motor" cars wore becoming quite common. Communications were being pushed into the remote parts of the country. When these were established the farmer would be encouraged to produce more. At present many districts produced only just enough for their own wants, and perhaps a little more in order, to barter. Aeroplanes were extensively used for mail services, being subsidised army machines, and the telephone and telegraph‘services were up to date, , Education was what the Government was concentrating upon. In all but the wildest districts education was already compulsory. There were many good schools of all grades ind colleges, and the university at Bangkok provided a very thorough training in all subjects. The' Boy Scout movement was part of the educational system, the late King having started it about fifteen years ago. “In each village the people elect their own headmen, and it is his duty to report from time to time to the provincial governors, in thC way the people’s views are brought before the Administration, Wc have an absolute monarchy at present, but when ilia jaaoalaaa becomes mora

wo may have representative government. At present there aro ten Ministers of State, Cabinet meeting every Monday morning all tho year round.” Tho most popular form of amusement in Siam, according to tho visitor, is the cinema, and ho laughingly remarked that in this Siam and New Zealand seemed to have similar tastes. The average pneo of admission was equivalent to twopence. “ But,” added Mr ITaraodo, “ I am afraid that from many of the pictures, largely of American origin, tho Siamese get rather distorted iews of tho raodo of life and morals of tho rest of tho world.” New Zealand from a tourist’s point of view, sa.d Mr Pramode, would bo very difficult to excel, there being so much diversity in the scenery. New Zealanders, bo thought, if they cared to get off the beaten track, would find Siam exceedingly interesting, and they would also find themselves thoroughly welcome. ‘‘The time will com© when wo shall have to, take a leaf out of your book and establish tourist bureaux, for tho world’s tourists are already hooking for fresh fields to conquer, but have hardly yet discovered my country.”