THE CONDITION OF ENGLAND.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19814, 30 December 1929, Page 10

THE CONDITION OF ENGLAND.

TO IHE EDITOB Of THE FSESS gir_Mr J. J. Dougall's remarks emphasise the unwisdom of basing permanent opinions on the impressions gained from the sojourn of a few months (or even of a vear) in a country which is not one's own. When P. G. Wodehouse gives us the character "Lady Rivera' (an authoress who wrote "India and the Indians'' after a slay of less than a month in that country, and whose "dear friend, Sir Roger Cremorne, wrote his 'America from Within' after a stay of onlv two weeks") we appreciate the humour of the situation, but fail at the time to draw a comparison between this and our own case. First impressions of a new country are almost entirely governed by the district one first visits and the people one first meets. For myself, after twelve months here, I could have found much to criticise: but my criticisms would have been founded for the most part on erroneous impressions gained from sources which were not truly representative of the best in the life of this countrv. Kow, after three years, and after meeting many more people of all classes, it is easy to see how misleading many of my first impressions were; and I venture to think that such is the experience of most of those who are able to stay for any length of time in a country which is new to them.

An Englishman will realise that there is just enough of fact in Mr Dougall's remarks to make his general statements entirely misleading. I imagine that Mr Dougall would not venture to suggest that the unemployed of Christehurch are satisfied to eke out a hare existence in enforced idleness for lack of work. As one who spent much of his vacations at Home in social work in the East End of London, I can sa}' with confidence that such a suggestion with regard to England's unemployed would be equally unjust and equally mischievous. In conclusion, I believe I am right in saying that the word "dole" is a misnomer when used in connexion with the money received by English unemployed, and that this money is at any rate to a certain extent subscribed by the working people themselves as a form of insurance against the distress of unemployment.—Tours, etc., T. VERNON GRIFFITHS. December 2Sth, 192f. . TO THE EDITOR OF THE KIESS. Sir, —Your correspondent, "Anglo New Zealander" will have many sympathisers in his protest against the biased comments on the conditions of Britain attributed to certain tourists, but may I point out to him, through you, that it is utterly futile to protest ? The origin and reason for the misnamed "dole" have been explained often enough for the entire population of New Zealand to know all about it by this time, but it is not uncommon for people who are not purely English (as apart from "British") to slander England, and they have worked this ''dole'' subject to death. The Home Government is faced with the biggest problem England (or, to suit some other people, Great Britain) has ever been up against, and if instead of abusing and ridiculing her, the people of the Dominions tried to think up some means of assisting her, then they would be just beginning to repay her for making it possible for the various Dominions to enjoy such periods of prosperity as come their way. And if, after accepting, for ever so brief a period, that hospitality and courtesy which England extends to New Zealanders more freely than to anybody else, a rapid motion tourist cannot say anything in iier favour the least he can do is to keep silence. The Press of New Zealand eould help considerably by refraining from giving such remarks publicity unless at advertising rates. If an English visitor to Christehurch, basing story on the activities of the Rotary Club on Christmas Eve were, on his return, to broadcast the news that the conditions in New Zealand were appalling, that destitution and distress existed worse than any he had ever seen at Home, an<J that as a. result there was an epidemic of crime, what would happen ? If New Zealanders would make a point of buying from Britain such manufactured articles as cannot be produced here, and would spend less on stuff from outside the Empire, there would be less talk of the '"dole," and the Old Country might, be able to find the money for the Singapore Naval Base (on which the security of Australia -and New Zealand rests, and for which they don't want to pay) a little sooner tlian is anticipated.—Yours, etc., RAGLAN. December 28th, 1929.