AMERICAN VISITOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1920, Page 2

AMERICAN VISITOR.

IMPRESSIONS OF THE DOMINION'. Some interesting observations upon New Zealand were made by Mr. T. E. Burton, a former member of the United States Senate, in the course of an interview at Auckland (states the New Zealand Herald). Mr. Burton is a prominent American, who represented the State of Ohio for many ynjirsr the House of Representan<'»<) and later In the Senate. He is a ,and is a stalwart advocate of tin. League of Nations' Covenant being adopted by America without reservations, leaving any differences to be settled by the League itself- He has recently travelled through Japan and Australia, and he gives the impression that he could give information 011 more important matters than mere travel. He stated that he had desired to visit New Zealand for many years. The Dominion, with a comparatively small population, had attracted world-wide attention because of its social and political experiments. 'I do not find the policies of the country quit© as radical as I had] anticipated," he said. "At the same time natural advantages, such as abundance of land, fertile soil, and mild climate, are such that other countries with a greater population and highly developed industries, could with difficulty accept its policies as a pattern to follow. There is certainly a very contented and stalwart population here, and it is not at all surprising that New Zealand made such an exceptional contribution in the winning of the war. I do not agree with those who say that a racial type is developing here. You have a strong, self-reliant people. Ido not know how much influence is to ibe ascribed to the wonders of natural scenery which New Zealand possesses. Sixty years ago there was a school of historians who maintained that the religious, political, and social life of a people was determined by social conditions. New Zealand bears some resemblance to the ancient States of Greece Its physical surroundings are delightful —inspiring almost " Mr. Burton considered that for dairy products and stock-raising this country was superior to any he had ever visited, and probably to any in the world. To an outside observer the indications were that New Zealand would' alwavs be an agricultural country like the Argentine Republic. '' Referring to the adverse balance of trade which the British Empire suffers in regard to America, Mr. Burton said he felt he was not well enough posted to express an opinion as to whether that balance would continue in favor of the United States. He anticipated that there would be a verv large demand in America for New Zealand wool. In respect to meat the United States had an enormous production, but at times it relied on other countries for supplies, and he believed that New Zealand would furnish meat, hides, and perhaps a certain quantity of dairy products to the 'United States. At present she was i scouring the world for hides and 1 pelts.