AFTER FORTY YEARS.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 63, 14 March 1924, Page 7

AFTER FORTY YEARS.

AUCKLANDER'S IMPRESSIONS. OF THE HOMELAND. MUCH TO ADMIRE. (By GEO. M. JOHNSTON.) During a visit to England and Scotland after an absence of over 411 years, one of the things that struck mc forcibly was the great advancement in the standard of living, particularly amongst the agricultural classes. The old thatched cottages with stone or earthern floors have disappeared, and in even the small villages gas or electric light I has superseded the candle, while a muni- ! cipal supply ■of water has taken the place of the old oaken bucket that hung by the well. The food and clothing of tlic working classes are vastly better, shorter hours of work and more amusements. Motor cars and cinematographs have wrought a wonderful change, while the system of broadcasting enables anyone for an outlay of a few shillings to have the continuous opportunities and advantages of listening-in. The roads arc kept in the highest state, of efficiency and make motoring a real pleasure, and during motor tours of many thousands of miles through England and Scotland it was only on rare occasions we were off the tar and sand. In towns the same question of what material to use—asphalt, stone blocks, wood blocks or concrete—is exercising the minds of the local authorities, as in Xew Zealand. Menace of Unemployment. The unemployed is a serious one for the Government, and thousands of skilled artisans have recently gone to the L'nited States and Canada, but, while cutlery, linen and nearly every class of fancy goods can be imported for, in some cases, less than half the cost of similar goods manufactured in the country it is a difficult problem for any Government to prevent the. importation by protective tariffs or embargoes. The agricultural industry is in a serious and almost desperate condition and as it costs lmost desperate condition, and, as it costs substantially more to protluce a bushel of wheat than to import it, large areas of agricultural land are being used for grazing, and sometimes even allowed to remain idle. To prevent or lesson this retrograde movement the late Government were proposing to pay a bonus of £1 an acre on all land used for agricultural purposes. The "dole"' which entitles every worker, male or female, out of employment, to a weekly allowance sufficient to live on, may have been necessary immediately after the war, but it has now tlic definite result of inducing many to remain idle. Young couples occasionally get married with not other means than the dole, while girls living with their families in many cases prefer the dole to factory work or domestic service. Political Standards. Socialistic ideas are becoming increasingly prevalent, not only throughout England, but in austere Presbyterian Scotland. The Labour Party created a bit of a scare with their recent proposals for a capital levy. In order to reassure the public they, however, undertook the levy would not be repeated a second time. They would only kill the goose once. Prohibition is not made an issue in England at general elections and is not nearly such a big question as in New Zealand. There are small bodies of prohibitionists quite as enthusiastic as liere, but amongst the public it is looked upon as more theoretical than practical. It is certainly not an advertisement for Parliamentary candidates, and T noticed that prior to the recent elections more than one candidate thought it necessary to publicly contradict the rumour that he was a prohibitionist. How far England is behind New Zealand in licensing legislation is exemplified by the opposition in the House of Commons to Lady Astor's Bill, ultimately passed, prohibiting the sale of liquor to young persons under IS. I rather surprised one of the Liberal candidates by informing him that 21 had 'been the age on the New Zealand Stai tute book for many years. But there are numerous other matters where British Legislation is only slowly following the advanced legislation of New Zealand. Police More Tolerant. The Police Offences Acts and city by-laws appear to mc to be more fairly administered than in Auckland. The police have no time to prosecute motorists whose electric bulb suddenly give? out or who don't take the complete right angle in turning a corner, and they do not take credit for a record numbei of prosecutions for inadvertent and harmless technical breaches. In many eases of cars left too long unattended a printed circular courteous]}" worded \t sent the owner pointing out the inconvenience his action causes and regretting that in the event of the offence being repeated vt may be necessary to prosecute. The housing difficulty has been much more acute, and has caused far more ; bitterness between landlord and tenant j than in New Zealand, and there has been exactly similar difficulties in legislating jto suit the circumstances. But notwithstanding the fact that many families are I living in stables we can still motor for miles aiong the walls enclosing the fleet parks and avenues surrounding the stately homes of EnglandVague Ideas of New Zealand. Many people in England have only a vague idea really where New Zealand is. I have met intelligent men who imagined that it is somewhere near America, while a very common belief is that it is a depc «,dcncy of Australia. But all the same I was much interested and gratified to find the. universal though somewhat hazy opinion that it was a superior sort of place and the people a rather decent lot. The presentations of the warships, the contingents to the Boer War, as well as the recent war, the Maori troops, and even the All Blacks are all remembered, and the loyalty of the people and the Imperialistic principles of our statesmen are well known Even at such places as Port Said New Zealand is well spoken of. An Arab who pulled mc round the harbour informed mc that his name was Thomas Mackenzie and said he was shortly coming out to New Zealand. New Zealanders are much more appreciated as fellow tourists than Americans, or even Canadians, in fact New Zenlanders get a good reception everywhere. The punctuality and efficiency of the railways and tubes is marvellous, and it is a pleasure to meet with the civility of the officials. The delay and discourtesy occasionally experienced at the parcel office at the Auckland railway station would not be possible in London. While the beauties of .England and the wonders of London.- are attractive and fascinating I at least am satisfied that there is no place to equal New' Zealand.