PROSPEROUS ENGLAND.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14583, 6 February 1913, Page 8

PROSPEROUS ENGLAND.

MR G. GOULD'S IMPRESSIONS

MOTOR-CARS AND LIVE STOCK

Mr and Mrs George Gould returned to Christchurch yesterday morning from England, after having spent a very pleasant holiday in the Old Country, in spite of the wretched summer experienced there. Speakinn to a representative of "The Mr Gould said that one of the tbiivs that impressed him most was tho general air of prosperity that the. country bore. Trade was simply booming in voYv marked contrast to the state of affairs during his last visit to England, four years ago. "1 can think," ho remarked, "of no better cure for one of pessimistic views as to the capabilities of the English manufacturer, than a visit to the g re at motor and motorcycle shows iit Olympia, which was held in November last". The display of cars and motor-cycles was magnificent, and the evidence*of keenness and ingenuity, more especially in the accessory departments ivas, t very cheering indeed as an indication of the alertness and general up-to-dateness of tho British manufacturer. Although the cheap American cars fill a certain class of demand mi the English market, and sell in large numbers, they are not to have it all their own way in future, for the Home manufacturers have only lately turned their attention to the building of lirziit, reliable cars, that sell at popular prices. Personally, I have no fears of the American ousting tho Englishman from his own markets, even for cheap goods, while for the highest grade, super-finished motors, the Yankee isn't in the hunt.

"I don't suppose this trade boom, which is more or less general in all classes of manufactures, is altogether

duo to free-trade, but it certainly seems to discount the case for tariff reform. From what I saw of the situation I tdiould say that free-trade was firmer on its seat now than over since Chamberlain launched his scheme of reform, which has been a miilstono round the neck of the Unionist Party. When the

statistics of British trade for 1912 are

completed, they will show a remarkable state of progress, but probably the next ' slump will see a revival of tho suggested ' reform of the tariff."

Mr Gould's keen interest in live stock

is well known, and it was nnt to bo supposed that ho would allow his visit to England to end without visiting somo of the great shows that tako place annually.

"The 'London Dairy Show, held in October, nhd the Smithfield Fat Stock Show, in November, were both most interesting/ he remarked, "and wero highly educational as well. I qonsider that tho outstanding feature of the Dairy Show was the section devoted to tho non-pedigree Shorthorns. For all round good farmers' stock, I don't think these cattle could be beaten. Although among the pedigreed Shorthorns thero wero some very good dairy cows, tho non-pedigree cattle quite outshone them in milking points nnd milk production, while,at the same time fulfilling all tho practical essentials of a beef breed. These cattle can be bought at very reasonable prices, and I know of no better opportunity for an enterprising well-to-do farmer than to purchase a consignment of this class of dairy stock. Tho want of a pedigreo need not concern the ?>ractical dairy farmer in tiie least, for io could sec their breeding written all over them, and their records speak for themselves.

The fat stock at Islington Avero a revelation to_ tho unaccustomed eyo of the possibilities of what seemed to me 'over-fattening' without loss of,form or quality. It interested mo very much to see the experts handling those great beasts, they themselves frequently being little less rosy and rotund than the animals ! ' It is wonderful how much is revealed to theso judges, through their finger-tips, of the flesh properties of tho animnls they have madotheir life study, and apparently they* could judge them -almost as well if they, the judges, were blind. Tho catalogue at Smithfield covered a wido range of breeds and

crosses, which wero most interesting for purposes of comparison. . Among the crossbred sheep none struck mo more favourably than the Sotithdown-Romney cross, as showing fine qualities both in wool and enrcaso. As ti purely mutton breed I liked tho Suffolks*immensely. I believe their flesh is superior to that of tho Shropshire's, which, in response to n 1 silly fashion, now have their faces and points covered ivith wool liko an old-fashioned merino. This adds nothing to their commercial value, but depreciates them ns ready iatteners." Asked if he had, like most Neiv ZeaInndors, attempted to reform the frozen mutton trade while at Home, Air Gould replied: "That is a matter for experts; I never even went to Smithfield."