Second Impressions Were Best

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 414, 30 May 1947, Page 15

Second Impressions Were Best

HEN Ginette Delmas _ar\X/ rived in New Zealand’ 16 months ago to open the French Press and Information Service, she was disappointed in us. She had been told, on visits to England, Canada, and the United States, that we were very progressive, and we

did not strike her that way at first sight... But when she understood our ways better she became enthusiastic, especially about the New Zealand education system and the way technical education, in particular, is handled. That is what she told The Listener in an interview before returning to Paris. The French Government has reduced its budget and the closing down of the Press and Information Seryice in New Zealand and other countries is part of its economy campaign. "New Zealanders are, I still think, more conservative than the French," said Miss Delmas, "but the way the consolidated schools in the country areas, with their transport -services, are handled, has impressed me. greatly. They. are better organised here than they are in France,.

and i think we couida profit by an examination of the system. And the way the children’s health is looked after--the dental clinics and so on-it is very good. These are not ex-

actly new ideas, but I do think there is something new and interesting in the way they work." Interest in France ' Pupils of secondary schools have made full use of the Press:and Information Service, seeking material .about French politics, geography, history, and the resistance_movement. "They showed

by their questions that they have been ‘trained in research," said Miss Delmas, who was also ‘impressed by the intelligent and searching questions asked at the close of addresses she had given in schools. We asked her if the particular work she had started would be carried on inNew Zealand. "No, I think this is the end of it," she said; "But I would like to see a Press and Information Service set up in Paris by New Zealand. It could be a two-way service; a New Zealand office could teil us all about its home country and at the same time send back information about us. Whether that is possible, I don’t know." The friendly relations . established with the Press of New Zealand had -helped her tremendously in her work. And she was grateful for assistance given her in Wellington by: university students of French. The Kangaroo Country Many people still have the vaguest ideas about New Zealand. They still think it is part of Australia, and refer to it as the "kangaroo country." Miss Delmas will take pains to put this right. When she was advised that the service was. to shut down, she took a trip through both islands, gathering as much information as possible. And she will pass this on when she reaches Paris. "My. job has been to tell New Zealand all about France; now I will tell France all about New Zealand, I expect to be asked all sorts of questions and ‘to talk to groups of students. But at the

moment my future is vague. I am disappointed at having to leave without seeing more of the results of our work. They were just appearing, and now I . have to go. But my friends and I at home will always watch the French newspapers with interest for cables about New Zealand affairs." .