A BANKER ON FURLOUGH.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14525, 29 November 1912, Page 4

A BANKER ON FURLOUGH.

•MB W. B. BARTON'S ItETTtTB^;

Mr W. E. Barton, of Rangiora, who returned from a trip to England yesterday, in reply to a "Press" reporter, said, he had noted many great changes in England since he last, caw it. The agricultural working people eeetned to have bettered theif conditions, but there wore numbers who would be ready to emigrate. In regard} to the employment of domestics, there was an admitted difficulty, and in this respect New Zealand and the Old Country had something in common. There was a decided improvement in tho arterial roads of the Homeland, which had been brought about by the enormous motor traffic.

Mr Barton spent some timo in London visiting the show places. The High Commissioner's office, ho > said, though not a show place or in the host situntion, was a useful plac"e for reference, and the officials were very obliging. Mr Barton caw two of the test matches at Lords, and also saw the London Tennis Championship at the Queen's Club Courts, Wilding winning. AH the European cracks were competing, and though the play was pood, Mr Barton did not think it excelled that which Canterbury witnessed in the Davis Cup. Ho was also fortunate in witnessing tho Aviation Derby of 80 milee round London. Tho aeroplane tras quite common in the southern districts, and at Brighton and Aldetshot it was no uncommon sound to hear the whirring of the motor engines high up in the air. The traction for passengers in the metropolis of the world had undergone a distinct change, tho horse cabs, 'buses and trams being replaced by motor-drawn vehicles.

Tho, country at the timo of his visit appeared politically moved on tho two questions of Welsh Disestablishment and tho National Insurance scheme, which brought the namo of the Premier and Lloyd George into constant repetition. Tho latter echemo was most resisted in tho southern ports of England, while in the northern counties its adoption met with littlo resistance and in timo it was anticipated it would be'accepted all ronnd. In regard to the dismemberment of large estates, this appeared to be steadily taking place in some of the kingdom as a result or these being heanly encumbered or the disinclination of the large owners to carry on m an extensive and expensive style. # Mr Barton snfmt some time m his native city of Winchester, Hampshire, and spoke warmly in its praise.