AS DUTCHMEN SEE US

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1929, Page 2

AS DUTCHMEN SEE US

FUTURE OF NEW. ZEALAND. “If we liiitl Rotorua in mil' country we make a lot of it.” said .Mr. i\ C. Vail dor livl, visitor from .A 1 • steriia.il. who has spent lour oi his seven weeks in New Zealand in eipoyin.; a pleasant holiday with his wife in the thermal district. The visitor is lamiliar with tiie mining spas at V» ie.soaden iiiul Aix la Chnpcile (now given the full-throated name of Aachen), in {jcfmaiiy, ami with others in different parts of Kurope. He says that tlie mild pools and geysers are in iar greater variety at Rotorua, and that Jis mineral waters are stronger lor medicinal purposes. As to the ;irL work of the Maoris, lie prefers the native art work which is found in the Malay Arcliipe.ago. .Mr. Van tier By!, who IH'ere Ins retirement, was one of the leading insurance assessors in Holland, believes that if properly developed New Zealand could carry a iiopulatiou very, many times larger than the present. Fie has hcen surprised to find so much of the land used lor cattle and sheep pastures, and wonders why we do not grow more corn and other products such as are grown in the countries of Europe. “1 should say that you need more railways and still more railways to open up the country,” lie added. “Yes, even if they do not at first pay for themselves.” Another thought which strikes the practical Dutch mind is that instead of exporting practically the whole of the wool production New Zealand m re factories for the manu'fni vane of clothing. “Your country will never he as great as it might he.” he added, ‘‘until manufactures have made it possible to carry a much larger pepa'ntion.” in the past few years Mr Van dor l!yl has spent nr s', of his time travelling round the w.irkl. He finds it profitable to 'do so. “\\ hen I am in Holland.” he said, “I have to pay oO per cent of my income in taxes, and for a man or average means that is difficult.” Aecrding to Air Van tier By], compatriots who make money in •Java or other of the Dutch colonics fro'iuently retire fairly early in life, and either live like princes in Holland or do as he does—spend most of their time travelling in other countries. “Do not forget,” was the visitor’s parting reminder, “that New Zealand is a country which, is intended by Nature for millions and millions of peoole. Jt- will never he that, until von have much more intensive fanning and manufactures. Because of its climate and scenery New Zealand is one of the fairest eo”utries in the whole world.”