"BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 259, 26 October 1908, Page 3

"BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD."

A TARAXAIvI MAX'S TRAVELS. In taking a seven months' trip to the Old Country, at the same time visiting a son in New York, Mr. dohn Ryan, of Manaia, was intent on observing things in general, as well as extracting pleasure and, if possible, recovering his lost health, lie had a pleasant holiday tour, and benefited in health considerably.' He also kept his eyes open to see wh'it had happened to the old lam! -inee he left 33 years ago. particularly in Inland, which lie lcrt when a vomi" man. iniXANii's position." Mr. liian told a representative ~( Hie Manaia Witness that landlordism was disappearing in Ireland--going fast --and since the loncnunent bad placd itself in the position of landlord the price of kind had been reduced 33 pelcent, on tin- figure being asked 33 year,, ago. "A reduction of a third,"' said Mr. Ryan. " what do you think of that':" At the time n't liN visit the country was jn-t recovering from sevn successive bad summers, but on the whole the condition nf the people and the position of trade were fairly satisfactory.

A state of contentment was uradua'ly j creeping over a long discontent,'.! people, anil in a few years he anticipat-; ed a Hii|i]>y and prosperous country.l The future was more hopeful. "l'f course the people will have to take advantage of the present opportunity,'' 1 said Mr. Ryan. " With the low price of land now available they should be able to do well, but if they can't Ihcy don't deserve to get on." He considered the.M was no country in the world for climate and soil so similar to Sew Zealand a s Ireland—it was the next country to New Zealand. Mr. Ryan spent ten weeks of his holiday visiting the principal centres in Ireland, and went to his birthplace, Kerry, where he found no less than seven male centenarians. He also flew through England, and went to America, visiting all the States uui Canada.

NOTHING LIKE NEW ZEALAND. "None of the country," he said, "could touch New Zealand. Ireland was the nearest approach, and one or two spots in England. This is the best country in the world," he declared with emphasis, "and the people in it don't realise the fact."

In hi s opinion Canada was ''blown up." People were induced to go there by glowing word pictures bearing the Government's stamp. The conditions were different to what were represented. Many were half-starving, and bundle.ls were getting away by any boat they could. It was a ho'rrible state of things. Labourers couldn't cam more than i> cents, a day and three meals. It was no plate for white men. THE YELLOW HORROR.

The country was infested with eastern i people—Chinese and Japanese were I everywhere and were ruining the country." The States were also being similarly invaded. In Honolulu there was] hardly a white man—Chinamen were filling all billets and running the whole place. New Zealand should be rescued from such an affliction, Mr. Ryan being particularly emphatic on this point. No white man could compete against the Chinaman.

Canada'- greatest trouble was 'lie seven months of the severest winter weather that had to be endured. The cold at times was intense. He heard of me n being frozen as soon as they stepped outside the back door. One lady driving to a dance, in the company of | two male companions, died after 2"> minutes' expo-lire— frozen to death. Men who had settled on the land we'e anxious to get away, but, could ,'ior without sacrilieing everything. "Canada is no good," he .-aid. '" New Zealand' are better off than we. realise."