MARAMA'S PASSENGERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 309, 31 December 1930, Page 9

MARAMA'S PASSENGERS.

WORLD-WIDE TRAVELLERS.

CONDITIONS OUT EAST

PEOSPECTS IN AUSTRALIA,

With 150 passengers ,in all classes the Marama arrived at Auckland early this morning from Sydney, and berthed at the Queen's wharf at 8.30. The vessel "will leave on the return trip at 3 p.m. on Friday. Rough weather was experienced for the first day out, thence fine weather and smooth seas till arrival. The' Marama's passenger list was made up of returning New Zealanders, overseas tourists, 'six Chinese and three Indians. .Putting Off Evil Day. Mr. C. Court and Mr. F. Duval.l, of Auckland, who have been travelling together " for six months, returned after a tour of the Continent and England. Speaking of the £28,000,000 loan re. cently raised in Australia, they said the general impression was that it was just a case of putting off the evil day. The loan would only temporarily solve the country's difficulties. That was the general impression of the thinking men in Australia. There was every indication in political circles, that there would be a general election in the new year; but it was thought that the thinking population would be behind Messrs. Lyons, Fenton and Seullin, who were expected to put up a big fight against the Labour extremists. China's Professional Beggars. Mr. and Mrs. A. Williamson, who were at one time residents of Takapuna, and whose home is now in Vancouver, have come back to Auckland to visit friends and relations for five months. It is just on 12 months since they paid their last visit to the Dominion.

• After leaving Vancouver on this tour, Mr. and Mrs. Williamson travelled in China, Japan, and the Dutch East .Indies. In China, and niore particularly Shanghai, they saw much evidence of poverty. That city;was full of professional beggars, who made themselves a pest. Children appeared underfed, and they, too, knew the art of begging. Mr. Williamson said he had heard that some of the beggars were wealthy. Whether that was so or not, there was every indication that China a bad way commercially. Things appeared to be different in Japan, where an air of prosperity prevailed. Coming down through the Dutch East Indies, Mr. Williamson said there were many evidences of trade depression, mainly due to the fall in prices of tin, eugar, rubber, and other East Indies products. On the other hand, tourist traffic seemed to be flourishing, and here again beggars were met with in large numbers. Even little children were being taught to beg by their parents. "It appeared as if they were out to make easy money," said Mrs. Williamson.

Mr. and Mrs. D. Henry, of Auckland, returned after spending nine months' holiday in the United Kingdom and on the Continent.