GENIAL PEOPLE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21211, 6 September 1940, Page 4

GENIAL PEOPLE

NEW ZEALANDERS’ PRAISED COURTESY TO TRAVELLERS “To a stranger in a strange land the geniality and friendliness of the New Zealand people is wonderful,’’ said Mr F. W. Nicol, of Assam (India), who is visiting Hamilton. Mr Nicol is an engineer on a tea plantation in the Darrang district (northeast Assam), and arrived on his first visit to New Zealand in July. Since that time he has covered many parts of the North and South Islands, and has expressed deep appreciation for the treatment he has received in every district he has visited. “ The courtesy of the drivers on the service cars ancl buses alone makes the trip worth while. They are a splendid advertisement for the country,’’ said Mr Nicol. “ Overseas visitors could hardly fail to be impressed by their obliging manner. Such impressions are sure to spread to other countries. In the hotels, on the railway stations and in other places where the travelling public is concerned I found that nothing was too much trouble to assist me in my travels and to make me feel at home. “ Although they have their own troubles, the New Zealand people as a whole appear to be very bright and cheerful and present a bright front to a visitor from another country. After a few minutes’ conversation they seem to have the happy faculty of breaking down all reserve and making the visitor feel as one of themselves. This is a great thing for the tourist traffic of the Dominion.” The speaker was also greatly impressed with the beauties of the Dominion, but expressed the opinion that a great deal more work was required in agriculture before the country was raised to its full productive capacity.