A SPORTING PARADISE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19472, 6 May 1925, Page 8

A SPORTING PARADISE.

CONDITIONS IN NEW ZEALAND. ' A VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS. • (Feom Due Own Cobeespondent.) AUCKLAND, May 5. “You New Zealanders do not realise in ■what a wonderful cotmtry you are living,” said Sir Hector Duff, of London, in speaking last evening of his impressions after a month spent in New Zealand. Sir Hector was formerly Governor of Nyassaland. South Africa, and is - a keen sports- ' man, both with rod and gun. “What has struck me most,” said Sir Hector, ‘is how animals introduced into your dominion prosper and increase in size and number. Your trout are as big as our salmon, and it is reported that Wapiti have been shot in the south that heat American records for size. Red deer 1 have increased until ■ they have become pests, and as this is not an isolated case of imported pests, I imagine that New Zealand will watch further introductions very carefully. If your country were nearer Britain, its fame as a sporting paradise would attract a flood of visitors, and even against the great handicap of ' distance more sportsmen will visit New Zealand as its attractions become more widely known.” Sir Hector DuS has recently been fishing at Taupo and Rotorua, after visiting Hawke’s Bay, where he lias landed interests. He remarked of the fishing that it was “most phenomenal” and a great asset, and he had enjoyed his fishing trip greatly. New Zealanders did not realise how fortunate they were in this land. There might still be a legacy of post-war boom and depression, especially in regard to land ■values and rentals, but generally the country was fairly in the way of prosperity. Compared with the difficulties under which Britain was labouring the dominion was very lucky indeed, and those who inclined to grumble, Sir Hector advised to spend a little time on the other side of the world. , After a study of conditions there they would be glad to return to New Zealand and to rejoice in a land which Nature seemed to have especially favoured.