CRITIC OF POLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1930, Page 3

CRITIC OF POLAND

MAN FROM NEW ZEALAND

[United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, Jan. 31.

According to Count Geoffrey de Montalk, a young Aucklander, claiming an ancient Polish title, who came to England from the Dominion of New Zealand in 1928, in order to boost New Zealand poetry, the peasantry of Poland are still in a wotse state of civilisation than the Maoris of New Zealand were before the white occupation. j)e Montalk says, after a visit to Lfithunania and Poland: “The nobles are siill the only civilised people. tVhon he met any peasants, while walking or riding, they bowed to ground, exclaiming: “Good day, mighfcv lords.” It is still the practice there to address the nobility as “Mightiest.” He said: “The common people are no better than African natives, except that they are white in colour. 1 was the first member of the De Montalk family for three generations 1 enter a Polish palace. I am glad that j am a New Zealander, with no need to remain in that mediaeval land.” Do Montalk told a literary audience at Foyle’s Bookshop, in a lecture, that New Zealand had produced better poetn- than William Shakespeare ever thought of. His audience was not impressed, even when the speaker mentioned that lie had written some peotry himself.