“Handsome Men and Charming, Girls’’

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 135, 29 August 1927, Page 4

“Handsome Men and Charming, Girls’’

THE HOSPITALITY OF | NEW ZEALANDERS | J . !

AN AMERICAN’S VIEWS “I am delighted with New Zealand and Australia,” said Mrs. Goft, the wife of United States Senator Goff, to a SUN representative this morning. “The men are handsome, the women wonderfully well dressed, and the girls remarkably chic and pretty. “In both Australia and New Zealand,” continued Mrs. Goff, “we have found much that reminded us of England —so dear to our hearts. We have had many experiences that have recalled pleasant visits in Canada—our most friendly neighbour, and our most neighbourly friend. Without exception I have met in both countries that cordiality, that genial, smiling welcome that springs from a hospitality that knows no bounds, and which leaves upon me an impression of friendship and goodwill which I am sure I can never forget nor live long enough to show my true appreciation of. “On our trip from Japan, China. Hong Kong, Singapore and Java we met many delightful Australasians. As we neared Sydney, where we received a wonderfully cordial reception, I happened to meet Sir E. "W and Lady \V——. He expressed surprise that Americans should come to Australia and New Zealand as mere tourists, without ■ business, rhyme or reason. I said: ‘I have come to look you over ... to see what manner of men you are! * “ ‘Well,’ he asked, with his eyes twinkling, ‘what do you think of us?’ “ ‘Do you want the truth or diplomacy?’ I queried. ‘lf the truth, I can only say that never in all my travels around the wide world have I felt such genuine kindness, such graciousness as here in Australia. In a way the people are like children in their frankness and open-heartedness. They are appealing/ “ ‘Come and visit us/ he said, ‘and I will show you 100,000 sheep on our estate, cattle of all kinds, flowers, singing birds, all that the heart can wish/

“I tell you all chis,” said Mrs. Goff, “only because it is so typical of the hospitality we have received from the Australians and New Zealanders. They have been generous almost to a fault. They have only to meet you and they immediately begin to plan something for your pleasure. They want you to see all they have to offer and they give all with an unstinted magnanimity undreamed of in other countries. Truly, we Americans have much to learn from both Australians and New Zealanders, and individually both my husband and myself feel that we want very much to come here again, where we have been made to feel so very much at home. “I expect that we shall make this point our annual pilgrimage and look forward joyfully to the time when we may again enjoy the fascinating pleasures of Australasia. “Tomorrow we leave for Fiji, full of happy anticipation of another wonderful experience . . . but with ever such real regret at bidding au rev'oir to New Zealand and all it has been to us.”