NEW ZEALAND’S GOOD NAME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 13 January 1931, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND’S GOOD NAME

BARRISTER’S IMPRESSIONS “No New Zealander can go abroad and converse with people, particularly in England and Scotland, without being impressed witli the very high reputation that New Zealanders have abroad,” remarked Mr O. C. Mazengarl>, the Wellington barrister, who returned to Wellington by the Monowai yesterday from an extended tour overseas.

“In the far north of Scotland,” he said io a “Post” reporter, “I had some professional dealings with a Scottish solicitor, who told me that he preferred to make his investments in New Zealand bonds; primarily because the country was ‘so well governed.’ His only regret was that he had alllowed some of his own and his clients’ investments to be made in stock of other countries.

“There is an impression in England and in the United States of America that there is little unemployment in New Zealand. The position may be bad in the Dominion, but it cannot be nearly as bad, comparatively, as it is in the Old Country and the United States. The dole is certainly a- bad feature of English social life, but the most distressing thing about it is that it is producing habits of indolence amongst artisans and clerks, who are not usually found in lists of unemployed. For instance, motoring through villages in England and Scotland one might- slow down in anticipation of seeing a direction sign, and before the car comes to a standstill a man will step from the pavement and ask in that courteous manner typical of a British citizen if he can help you. He is not looking for a tip, but if you converse with him you will find that he is out of a job. Being idle for a few weeks, he soon falls into the habit of not rising for breakfast; of walking clown to the street corner without shaving or putting on a collar, and filling in his time till lunch or till the evening paper is published. If only these men could be induced to work in their gardens, or go for a walk, or even to stay inside reading a book, they would not be in danger of drifting (as they are drifting rapidly) into the ranks of the unemployed. In other words, it is the psychological effect of the dole that, in my opinion, is England’s greatest problem. “I was invited to speak at various meetings in England, and was thrilled with the reception given to any remarks indicating the attitude of -New Zealand to the Old Country. They are all pleased to know that New Zealanders are proud to belong to the Empire, anad that the expression ‘Commonwealth of Nations’ so much used in Australia and Canada is not in current speech here. A leading London stockbroker, who places loans for many local bodies in New Zealand, wanted me to know that that attitude was,duly appreciated in England, and was reflected ill the fact that our stock was then standing at 104, as against Australia s 78.”