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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 62, 4 September 1911, Page 5

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♦ I Auckland, Friday. Amongst those who arrived b.v tho Maheno from Sydney was Mr. W. J. Geddis, of Napier, who completed an eight months' tour, which included France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Belgium and Ireland. In the course of a conversation with a representative of the Star, Mr. Geddis gave some interesting impressions of hia tour, lie said: "In Germany the military spirit is very much in evidence. There is not the slightest doubt about the -superiority and strength of the military organisation, nor.of (he ambition of this people to extend the boundaries of their empire, but for my own part I cannot help feeling, without bei:ig prejudiced, that apart from the organisation, and studied individually, I would prefer Tommy Atkins every time. One thing that impressed me very much in Germany was tile extent, of .their knowledge of the different countries throughout the world. Now, in England, while they know ail about the patriotism of the people of N'ew Zealand, they still appear to have a very liazv idea about tlift Dominion generally. It .surprised them to be told that Auckland is a city with a population of 110,000. with elpetri« tram service and other modern conveniences. A good many of the EnglisH people seem still to hold the idea dint New Zealand is a part, of Australia. In one case, at a dinner, Mr. Itlomfield was placed beside another colonial, because they would probably be acquainted, although the other man bad come from Canada. Now in Germany it was quite different. 1 found that ordinary shopkeepers knew all about Auckland, its population, and also the different, centres of the Dominion. They also knew about its commerce. 1 was told, in answer to queries I made as to how they knew so much about these matter-, that in thei first place they were taught it in the schools, where great attention is evidently paid to geography and commercial knowledge. Then later on their knowledge is kept up to date by their svstem of .information forwarded from the Consular service and other Government ofl'eials."