LIKES NEW ZEALAND

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1940, Page 2

LIKES NEW ZEALAND

VISITOR FROM AMERICA

Some interesting impressions of New Zealand and New Zealanders were given in an address to the Society for Imperial Culture in Christchurch by Mr. R. G. Bowman, a visiting lecturer in geography at Canterbury University College from the University of California. "The typical New Zealand boy is full of life and vigour. probabl.v because he gets plenty of good food, sunshine and outdoor life," he said. In the New Zealand cities. where children can get out into parks and fresh air, one sees nothing of the pale-faced children to be seen in the big American cities. j "Young girls are not exactly like the American girls; in fact. it might be said that, they are quite different. They are r.'.uch more reticent. They seem more ready to sit in a chair and do the bidding of their parents." "The same applies to students. They seem to have more respect for authority. and are less inclined to raise questions in class. I feel. however. that relations between student and teacher are'better \ hen young people are ready to ask questions and challenge anything that might be said. "Hostesses in New Zealand seem to try to outdo one another in generosity. Everywhere I go I am pressed with cakes and tea. In America we are inclined to have three prosaic meals a day and not indulge in those pleasant little interludes where people drink tea and improve their social relationships. "I was impressed by the amount of knitting dnne in New Zealand. New Zealanders eliminate waste far more than we do in America. and the partncrships between husbands and wives in helping each other are often very charming. "New Zealand is filled with clubs and conunittces. I was askcd to join five or six in the first week I was here. They encourage social life and are much less formal than in America." Mr. Bowman concluded by expressing a hope that the countries of the Pacific would come closer together tlirough their common traditions and understanding. He considered that the Governments should encourage travel between one country and another for this purpose.