BRIGHT OUTLOOK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 235, 4 October 1935, Page 5

BRIGHT OUTLOOK.

CONDITIONS IN U.S.A.

OIL DIRECTOR'S TOUfc.

COCKTAIL BARS POPULAR.

"There is no question that there has tleen a decided improvement in conditions in America," said Mr. E. G. Martin, managing director of the Atlantic Union Oil Company in New Zealand, who returned with Mrs. Martin by the Mariposa to-day from a six months' "vacation in the United States.

Mr. Martin, who was right through the States, said that to all outward appearance there were no indications of any depression, though, of course, the traveller knew that it existed under the surface. But the improvement could not be denied. Many companies, which had been off the dividend list, were now back on it; the theatres were crowded, so much so that it was sometimes impossible to pet in; and the big stores all showed indications of having many more customers who were really buying .and not merely looking around. Mr. Martin said he thought President Roosevelt had lost some prestige in the extreme East and West, but the Middle West farmers were all strong for him. It was absolutely certain that he would receive the next Democrat nomination. The Republicans were feeling round for a leader, and there had been some mention of Mr. Hoover, but Mr. Martin did not think that he would get the nomination. Ring Champions. *'"I saw the light between Braddock and Baer," said Mr. Martin. showed no indication of championship form, and I predicted that Braddock would be. champion only until the next fight. I also saw the light between Camera and Louis. I thought then that Louis was a coming world champion, and that if he met Baer he would finish him within live rounds. Louis is a very cool man in the ring and has tremendous power in both, his left and right arm^

"Everything is open," said Mr. Martin, referring to the repeal of prohibition. "It was said that if repeal were carried there would be no saloons. In a sense that is true, 'but in another it is not, because of the opening up of what are called cocktail bars. The only difference between them and the old saloon is that the new bars are much more elaborate than the old typo of saloon was, and they are attended by women as well as men.

"The drug stores, groceries and special liquor shops do most of the retailing in bottled goods, but when New York licenses were recently renewed 3000 vendors who had licenses did not trouble to renew them. That is an indication that the case with which liquor can be secured has resulted in people not paying so much attention to it as they formerly did."

Mr. Martin will go on to Wellington on Sunday or Monday night.