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Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1924, Page 2

TCkadixo so much about the scandals ami political and otherwise, in the United States, and noting the attitude of tlie two great political parties assembled in convention seeking their candidates for the Presidency and Viee-Presidencv. the thought occurs how the people as a whole view the position. Some inkling is given In- the impressions of Dr. Outline of Christchurch, who lias just returned from a tour abroad. He does not present a very rosy picture of the people in hulk in America. "With regard to life in America. T)r. Guthrie had a story to tell. Tn reality, ho said he would not have stayed a month longer in America than was absolutely necessary. He had met some charming Americans individually, hut the American spirit seemed to banish all that tvps beantjfnl in life,

:ind certainly all tlmt was beautiful in the English language. Americans were trying to make life as hideous as possible, and their conditions were intolerable to the Britisher. The exception was the city of Boston, where he found, as has been always'alleged, the most cultured people in America. Boston itself was a. beautiful town, its only blemish being the people in authority. He touched on the recent scandals in America, and said that the actual evidence was a great deal worse than the British papers had shown. Yet the American people had read of the scandalous corruption, and did not seem at all perturbed, taking it as a matter of course. In effect, so far as he could judge, American politics from beginning to end were crooked, and nobody seemed to mind. The system of justice, too was a disgrace to the country, and it was admitted that eases took three times as long in America ns in England. Questioned as to prohibition in America, Dr. flnthrie said it was a farce. Liquor could he obtained with the utmost ease, and families now had their bootlegger where formerly they had a wine 'and a spirit merchant. He had been in a number of homes, and liquor was offered to him quite openly. He saw several drunken men in the streets and in Chicago a number of taxi-driv-ers wore convicted for drunkenness while he was in that city. He heard excellent opinions expressed hv Americans of England. He had conversed with Americans and other business) men when crossing the Atlantic, and had been assured by them that Britain’s way of paying her war debts, despite the crushing taxation of the present time would bring her back faster than any other nation to her pre-war eminence. In America a gratuitous compliment was paid to England when he was at a gathering of professional men. The remark was passed that Britons could always look anybody in the face for Britain always paid her debts.

A pool) deal is being heard about tho inadequacy of the New Zealand display at Wembley. From all accounts it is a very poor advertisement indeed. For some reason a great opportunity lias been lost. -Many extracts from letters sent by New Zealanders at Home are being published. All appear to egree that the reputation of the Dominion is not being enhanced by tile display made at Wembley for the benefit of the world at large. Dr. Guthrie, who has just been quoted above, had something to sav also on the subject of the New Zealand court. He was very severe. A ‘'country stall” was how l)r. Guthrie descrilred the New Zealand section at the Wembley Exhibition, in words that conveyed his disgust. He said that those responsible for the arrangements had succeeded in giving visitors the impression that the Dominion was the stodgiest country in the world. Canada and Australia had artistic and well thought out exhibits, while the New Zealand section was confined to unattractive eases of fruit, frozen carcases of sheep, and a solid background of pictures arranged without any pretension to taste, and giving the impression that the tourist bureaux of the country had been ransacked for the purpose. The New Zealanders on the ship on the return journey were in a state of indignation concerning the Exhibition, and tho ship’s officers stated that it was a disgrace to the Dominion. Tt is difficult to account lor this palpable shortcoming seeing that there was so much time to prepare for the event. If there was a shortage of funds the Government is to he blamed for not doing the work well. If the wrong people have been sent Home to direct the exhibit the Govrnmont was equally culpable for approving the choice. Now Zealand has missed a groat opportunity to excel before all the world.