BRITAIN'S WORKLESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 256, 26 October 1923, Page 8

BRITAIN'S WORKLESS.

DISASTROUS FOREIGN COMPETITION.

AUCKLANDERS IMPRESSIONS.

Returning to England after 44 years' absence, Mr. Robt. Darlow, of Auckland, was struck with the immense improvement in the condition of the people, who were generally well fed and clothed. The towns were very much more orderly, and the people more sober, while the children were better nurtured in every way.

The Old Land, said Mr. Darlow, to-day had many serious -problems to solve, but he was satisfied that its people had the grit to overcome their difficulties, serious as they were. Unemployment was rife in many industries, especially the metal trades. Foreign competition was very keen, especially from Germany. German goods were being imported at prices which left the British manufacturer hopelessly behind. The effect of the depreciation of the mark in Germany was that the German manufacturer had got his factory and machinery for practically nothing, thus giving him an advantage in the world's markets. In many cases previous substantial mortgages in Germany were paid off in markf exchanged for English money of snial , value, the result of German gooda beinf sold to Britain. One case cams under his notice where a German had discharged a debt equivalent to £1500 by the sale of a pair of boots in England

Tha dockers' strike caused much low and disturbance of trade, and New Zealand and other vessels were held up for a considerable time. Several other strikes were on during his visit, but ir each case the workers achieved nothing while the loss to the community wa; considerable. He found that the uneni ployment dole was generally condcmncc , as a serious blunder, and but for thr dole the dockers' strike would have soor collapsed. He also spent a week i; France, and from inquiries learned tha there was no unemployment; the French man was hard at work, and had n time to indulge in frivolous industria' squabbles.

So far as ho was able to look intf educational matters, Mr. Darlow foun' , that New Zealand was very much behind In no case did he find the classes undcone teacher anj'where nearly as larg as was common in Xew Zealand.

His experience was that the High Commissioner's office was well organised and of immense benefit to visitors am 1 others. There was no doubt that E'lg land was a beautiful country, but al , the same he was pleased to be back ir dear old New Zealand-«-the finest coun try in the world.