New Zealand a Backwater

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 265, 30 January 1928, Page 8

New Zealand a Backwater

MORE ACTIVE IN “NINETIES”

A Professor’s Impressions

“MEW ZEALAND is an absolute backwater. She has a PI great deal of very important and urgent lessons to learn, particularly as far as education is concerned. This statement by Dr. James Hight, Rector of Canterbury College, rather depreciates the popular idea as to the high position the Dominion is supposed to hold abroad.

D R , HIGHT returned to New Zealand last evening by the Aorangi after spending some time at Leeds University. He was formerly Professor of History at Canterbury College, but went Home to Leeds last year. During his absence, Dr. Hight lectured at Geneva and also at many of the universities in America. Speaking of Geneva, and his talks there, Dr. Hight said that the situation, from a New Zealand standpoint,

is not good. “People are not as interested in New Zealand as they should be,” he said, "and the data is not up-to-date. I intend to approach the Government about It.” He then made the remarks quoted above about New Zealand and education, and went on to say that a marked feature of England, Germany and the United States at the'present time is their educational activity. Germany, he says, is in the throes of an educational revolution. THE TAIL OF THE PROCESSION “New Zealand is not giving what she should to the political, economic and general intelligence contributions of the world,” continued Dr. Hight. “We do not occupy the position we did in the nineties. We shonld take a much more active part than wo do in the activities of the League of Nations and the International Lalxurr Office. This is an age of international gatherings, and these gatherings will increase. It behoves New Zealand to be represented adequately at them. “We have a cheese-paring end mistaken policy and we are net

•pending the necessary money for the purpoee of being represented. We shall rapidly cease to possess any particular interest for other countries unless we take our place as a nation among nations and realise our responsibilities. We are making it very difficult for the people of New Zealand in years to come, although we are well able to compare with other countries.” At Geneva, Dr. Hight addressed the Agricultural Committee of the League, and gave an account of the agricultural and pastoral industries of New Zealand. During his stay there he met many prominent people associated with activities at Geneva and discussed the economic situation with them. Dr. Hight spent two terms at Leeds University, and during that time he attended the Imperial Education. Conference in London. On his way hack to the Dominion he made a lecturing tour which occupied three months in the United States. Some of his observations are particularly interesting. CONDITIONS IN BRITAIN “Economic conditions in England are much better than we are led to believe,” he said. "The English are apt to exaggerate the darker side of the situation, but on the other hand the Americrns are prone to overexaggerate the bright side. “In a great many of the industries at Home there are more employees than there were four years ago. These Include the cotton industry, motor industry, transport, brick-making and several others. Coal, woollen textiles, steel, iron, engineering and shipbuilding are not so good, but with the exception of coal they are all improving. “In America the position, since the summer is not quite happy as it presents itself to the eyes of the economic expert. Steel was working only 65 per cent, of its capacity, coal and the motor industries were depressed, and In the Middle West banks were failing and thousands of farms were being deserted. There was also a great deal of unemployment. Thousands of Mexicans were finding their way over the border into the United States, and people were beginning to think about restraining them. Dr. Hight said that Colonel Lindbergh had been sent down to Mexico to create some enthusiasm. One of the things which left a marked impression on Dr. Hight was the conditions which existed in the country areas of the United States. The crudity of life—houses, plantations, gardens, even in county which had been settled for 200 and 300 years, was much lower than in New Zealand farming districts. Dr. Hight lectured at Columbia, University, New York, Chicago, Stamford, San Francisco and the University of Southern California, and also at Pomona College and Salt Lake City University. After San Francisco he considers that Salt Lake City ie the most beautiful city he saw in the States.