IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1924, Page 3

IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA

MR W. M. 11 CGI I ES’S VISIT. AUCKLAND, Aug. IS. Three outstanding features o. American life dcply impressed Mr W. M • Hughe- during Id- visit lo America. Tlicsc were the alert sv-tem »! l"'’hnical and vocational education. the problems ul o-miipolilan immigration ~ud the intensive interest ol American- generally in America first, la-t and nearly all the time. The forme. Prime Minister of Au-tralia. accninI an-;ed bv Dame Mary Hughes and their little daughter, is returning W Australia by t In- Niagara. •■While I was in the United Slates, -aid Mr Hughes. "some prominence was given to liriti-l, policy in respect ,1,7- naval ba-e at Singapore. The defence (1 f the Pacific was a topic ol leading interest. but it was only m relation to America and American interests. Tbe dell-lice of the Pacific as n whole rouses but little interest in America. Au-tralia and New Zealand ure hardly- in till- picture at all." ••There is eon-id,-rahle haziness m ,1 .. I' niti-d States about Au-tralia and Now Zealand. It often seems th,lt not ev.-n their no-ition geographically js known. As for the resources and orcwih of out- countries. American knowledge generally i- inlinitesimal. Vi -ou7 propaganda would bo advantage,ms. Trade at pro.-in is «•"*- -id d. The advantage is with Ati'criI poiiili-,1 out that on every P"'>iM»‘ an«l i** l tliai .Htniin alone my torn-. I think, was serviceahle.

■•Wlmt impre-sed me most m "’- j .to education in America was the | evtensive <>>' '--. hnical train-j i„. hut in ri—pec. ol the humanist,c side of education, which I"'"" ,0,. ;l u,l miens imlgment, the nntversi,ie- of Australia and New to and need not fear comparison with thn-e i„ the States. One outstanding feature of Amen,an umver-ity lde t- On enormous size of the institutions. For example, in the Univer-.ty of California there are UM'til teachers ... the profe-sional stall', and over bO.OItO student-. In Harvard there are some professors and 15.0tKl students. This makes it quite impossible to banthat elo-e relatiiiitsliip between teacher and taught, between prolessor and student, which exists in the HrtUsh Empire system of university education. American- are beginning to recognise dani'cr in their crowded system. ■\ found American- everywhere ,-e courteous and hospitable,” eoneluded Mr Hughes. "There ,s no possible doubt about the interest the keen American takes in our young demnoraeies nor about his sincerity m "'sitin., for them continued progress amt success hut he should he told more about their resources aud nitrations. Vigorous propaganda it, that direction would he worth while.”