WHERE FIGHTS ABOUND

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12612, 24 November 1926, Page 6

WHERE FIGHTS ABOUND

AND COUNCILLORS ARE ARMED NEW ZEALANDER'S VISIT TO MEXICO STABLE GOVERNMENT HAS COME “I really don’t think that there was anything more behind the recent action of the Mexican Government than an ardent desire for the advancement of the peon. The Government desired to have more control of education in the future than it has had in the past, and this is to be achieved in only one way.” Thus Mr Ultan F. McCabe, just back from an extensive tour of the United States and Mexico, summed up the situation in an interview yesterday. “I had luncheon with one of the Ministers of the present Cabinet,” said Mr McCabe. “And he told me that it was the intention of the Government to work for the improvement of the people. Of the rioting, accounts of which h av e been cabled over here, there has been very little that was serious and political in nature. You can see what it is by this story. Not long ago two deputies were playing billiards together at a place called Gomez Palacio. One, wilfully or accidentally, happened to knock a ball and inside four minutes they were both shot dead. Once when I wqs in a tramcar with some friends we were warned against a certain fellow who was what the Americans would call ‘snooping’ around behind us. And even though we were watching him he attempted to get the revolver of one of my friends from out of its holster. ARMED COUNCILLORS “In Mexico everyone carries revolvers. Permission must be obtained from the Minister of War and that is easily got. You will see an the councillors walking around with bulging hip-pockets. " Also, since the last revolution every train which leaves Mexico City carries an armed guard of about 24 soldiers. And this is very necessary, for one never knows when there will be an outbreak. The average Mexican is easy enough to handle when he is sober, but once he is drunk there is no braver man in the world. He is like the mouse that had a few 6pots and Eaid: ‘Bring out the Cat!’ “The army which .provides these soldiers has its amusing side. I remember that when we were going out to the opehing of a big new agricultural college a minister was 'accompanied by an armed guard of about 30 troops. They were very nicely attired wearing smart khaki uniforms and neat accoutrements. But each man bad a haversack slung upon bis back and on the outside of this haversack was—what do you think? A coat-hanger for him to hang his overcoat upon 1 TAKE THEIR WIVES “Vfhen the army ap into action each soldier is allowed to take along his wife and family and anything else that he cab. “Mexico is a wonderful country with a rich soil, and fine endowments of oil and minerals. It needs only stable government and I think that it has now got this. Its industries are getting more numerous and more wealthy, but the position is very peculiar yet. For instance, the country imports all itß hams, bacon, canned foodstuffs and enormous numbers of eggs from the United States, whereas if the land were' farmed properly it could produce all these in sufficient quantities tb feed itself and leave a surplus for export.”'