TOUR ABROAD.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19852, 13 February 1930, Page 17

TOUR ABROAD.

CONDITIONS OF INDUSTRIES MR WILL APPLETON'S IMPRESSIONS. [TUB PRESS Special Sorvica] WELLINGTON, February 12. After an absence of ten months Mr Will Appleton, managing director of the Charles ITaines Advertising Agency, Ltd., and overseas director of the Paton Advertising Serviee Pty., Ltd. (Australia), returned from a world tour by the Maunganui. The primary object of Mr Appleton's visit was to investigate and study the latest methods in manufacturing, distributing, salesmanship, and advertising abroad, and at the same time givo to overseas manufacturers some idea aa to the possibilities of the New Zeaiand market.

In tlie course of his trip Mr Appleton visited 32 cities in the United States, 11 in Canada, 27 in England and Scotland, and the more important commercial centres in Holland, Germany, Belgium, and France. Mr Applc.ton states that he was well received everywhere, the welcome being paiticularlv cordial in the United States, Germany, and England. Ho was surprised to discover, contrary to tho general opinion, that New Zealand was so well known abroad amongst business people. Praise for Canada.

Crossing over the Pacific Mr Appleton stepped off at Sieamous, Lake Louise, and Banff, and saw the Canadian Rockies at their best. "Without in any way disparaging my own country, I must take off my hat to Canada in respect to her alpino scenery, " said Mr Appleton, "And as for tho railway and hotel Bervice of the Canadian Pacific, all I can say is that we in New Zealand do not know the first thing about catering for tourists. Nowhere else on my trip did I encounter such wonderful sorvice. "On my way to Chicago I dropped off at Kenosha, where I went over tho Nash motor works and had the pleasure of meeting one of the outstanding personalities of the American motor industry. Mr C. W. Nash is one of the most'human men it is possible to meet. As one of the superintendents informed me, 'the chief knows every process in this game, and when a weaknoss develops he is the boy to put his fingers on the spot.' Probably one of the wealthiest men in the United States, Mr Nash does not hesitate to take off his coat and wade into things.

In Chicago. • '•Chicago impressed me tremendously. Notwithstanding all the alarming reports wc have read recently about its lawlessness and state of bankruptcy, I consider it a fine city, well planned and magnificently laid out. I visited the stockyards and found them in excellent condition. The organisation and management are beyond cavil." From Chicago Mr Appleton journeyed to Fort Madison, which is over 400 miles in the Middle West'. Here he visited tho Sheaffer pen works, one of the best equipped factories it was his privilege to see. "The working conditions are ideal," he said, "and here one sees the dream of a visionary realised to the full."

lie then took a night train to Bt, Louis, the route following the Mississippi. St. Louis is of particular interest to New Zealanders inasmuch as it is the rabbitskin market of the world. Here the skins come from every quarter of the globe, and the fame of the New Zealand variety puts it at the head of the list when the sales take place. Ilis itinerary took him on Jp Cin'eiiinatti and Dayton. "At" the latter town," continued Mr Appleton, "I visited the- National Cash Register works, which are a revelation in the way of automatic machinery. Some of these machines are almost uncanny in the way in which they turn out the work. In this plant I was amused to see tho messenger boys doing their errands on roller skates.

'•lt took me almost two days to go over the ,'Goodyear' works, and then, although I was somewhat footsore, I did not see all the plant.

"At Toledo I went over tho WillysOverland establishment, which is one of the most progressive plants in the country. I also visited a factory devoted +o the nmliinf of toy motorcars and bicycles for children.

Visit to Ford Works. "Detroit is a vast city, and is growing like a mushroom. It can be said to be tho home of thq motor-car. I visited the Dodge-Chryslel? plant, also the Burroughs Adding Machine Company's factory. Crossing over tho ferry to Windsor I inspected the Canadian Salt Company's organisation, and later in the day I called on the Ford people. Hero I was given an enthusiastic wolcome by the advertising department, and particularly by the export manager, Mr Boy S. Milliken, who used to be associated with the Colonial Motor Company in Wellington. ... "The Canadian Ford plant, like tho factory in Detroit, is a model in efficiency. AH of tho American motor men that I met advised me to see tho Ford works, and I must say that for organisation, management, and equipment the Ford works stand out as » wonderful example of efficiency. Without doubt the Ford establishments are tho most wonderful in the world to-day. Here mass production has been brought to the highest point of perfection, and not at the expense of the workers either. The reverse is the ease, and wherever possible machines relieve the mechanics of all physical exertion. "The day I visited the Highland Park plant at Detroit there were 300,-. 000 men on the pay-roll, and the output was 9300 cars. I saw tho men changing shift, and they marched in fours like a battalion. Thousands of cars were parked around the plant in which the workmen came to and fro. Both in America and England those in the trade and out of the trade expressed the opinion that Ford has staged a wonderful 'come-back' with his new car, with the result that Ford sales in America, arc double those of the nearest competitor. Canadian Development. "London, Ontario, is a fine city. Situated amongst a wonderful lot of trees, it is a most progressive place, and amongst the plants I inspected were the McOlary range works, which have recently been rebuilt.

"I may mention in passing that Canada is rapidly developing as a manufacturing country, • and already sho is vying with her neighbour in the overseas markets. Toronto is one of the finest cities in the American Continent. It has quito an American air about it, though English in many, respects. Here is located the finest hotel in Canada, the Royal York, recently built by the C.P.R. people. It is the largest hotel in the British Empire, h * vlng about 1800 bedrooms, each with a bath. In Chicago, by the way I stoppod at the Hotel Stevens, which has rooms, . , ... "Niagara Falls I inspected on the wa y through to Rochester, whero I put in a couple of days at the Kodak plant. The Kodak factory is a model, and I was much impressed by the way in which the health and general welfare of the employees are studied. Rochester i, a very fine city, which owes much of its attractiveness to th® genetoin y

and beneficence of Mr George Eastman the founder of Kodak."

On leaving Rochester, Mr Appleton visited some of the smaller cities, and then journeyed to Washington, which unquestionably is the most beautiful city in America. From Washington he went to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the homo of the Armstrong Cork Company, makers of the famous floor coverings. j\lr Appletou was most interested in learning how linoleum is made. This is one of the most up-to-date concerns in America.

Famous Printing House. Philadelphia is famous to newspaper folk as the headquarters of the Curti3 Publishing Company, which prints the "Saturday Evening Post" and the "Public Ledger," a daily newspaper, and various other periodicals. "Tho printing house surpasses anything I had seen," said Mr Appleton, "and is a marvellous tribute to engineering skill and inventive ability. I was also interested to go over the offices of N. W. Ayer and Son, the largest firm of publcity agents in the world. They are housed in their own building, a huge structure, and have a staff in Philadelphia alone of over (500 people. "New York was reached on a Saturday night. The city seems to extend for miles and miles into the country. Unfortunately for me I struck a heat wave, and although the temperature was only 93 degrees, it was warmer, due to the" humidity, than I have felt it in Adelaide at 106 degrees. On the Sunday I visited Coney Island. All New York seemed to be there, it being estimated that there were 1,300,000 people at the seaside that day. The bathers on the beach were just like flies. The tremendous board-walk, which is at least 300 yards wide, and extends for miles, was an eye-opener to me. In London.

"The first iivo weeks J spent in getting into touch with business firms in and around London, and had the good fortune to be favoured with ideal weather. I felt quito at homo in London. The name New Zealand has a magic touch about it in tho Old Land, and in all quarters I rccoived a wonderful hearing.

"Within a few days of my arrival I was mado the guest of the Thirty Club, the most exclusive publicity club probably in the world. I was present when Lord Beaverbrook launched his Free Trade Within the Empire crusade. Other notable advertising men present were the Hon. Charles McCurdy, Sir William Crawford, Sir Charles Higham, Mr Andrew Milne, and Mr J. Ackermnn. (of tlio 'Chronicle'), Mr Eric Lawson (of the 'Telegraph'), Mr Sykes (London Press Exchange), Mr Saward (Sawanl, Bakor), Mr Alee. Nathan (Glaxo), Mr Philip Emanuel (Odhani's Press), Mr Gordon Kalston (Lever Bros), Mr Sidney Walton, Mr F. W. Doidge, and Mr Gerard Gibbs. I was mado vory welcome in Fleet street, and was surprised at the number of New Zealanders and Australians engaged in 'Tho Inky Way' in London.

Big Soap Works. "Jn the Old Country I visited three of tho big soap concerns—Lover Bros., Ltd., at Port Sunlight, out of Liverpool; Joseph Crosfleld's at Warrington, near Manchester, and Gorrard's, at Nottingham. One must hand the palm to Lover's for being tho most up-to-date and tho best organised business in England to-day. In fact, I place it next to the Ford works for general all-round efficiency. Port Sunlight is a veritable hive of industry, and I have never seen a finer lot of happy, contented workers. The conditions are ideal, and I was not surprised to learn that the cost of production at Port Sunlight was lower than at any other branch. "Curiously enough, when at Crosfleld's plant I was shown the small building where William Levor, as he was then, first had Sunlight soap made. In those days Crosfleld's made tho base for him, and they little dreamt that the day would eome when by aggressive advertising and salesmanship Lord Leverliulme would dominate the market and eventually control the Crosfield's too. At the Warrington plant tho well-known Erasmic specialities are manufactured. At Bournville. "lu the cocoa field I had the pleasure of going over Bowntree's at York and Cadbury's at Bournville. Bournville is unique. It seemed to me that in regard to welfare work and the provision of better housing conditions for tho workers generally Cadbury's are in advance of any,other firm. Both Lever Bros, and Bowntroe'a have provided garden villages too, but not to the same extent. A great number of the people who live at Bournville, and who havo taken advantage of the Cadbury schome, are- not engaged in tho Cadbury business.

"Other prominent manufacturers with whom I came into contact were Beckitt's at Hull and Colman's at Norwich. Those two firms are distinct, but combine thoir selling activities as far as Australia and New Zealand aro concerned. Beckitt's is a wonderful organisation, and members of the firm have been very generous in the provision not' only of better conditions in the way of housing and recreation for their workers, but for the people of Hull generally. The ultramarine works of Beckitt's at Hull are the largest in the .world.

Motor Industry. "In the motor field I was fortunate in being shown over the works of Leyland in Lancashire, of Austin in Birmingham, and of Hillman in Coventry. The Leyland business was a revelation to me, and I was astounded at the dimensions of the bus business that these people do. The new types of buses being made for municipalities and transport companies give some idea of the tremendous strides that have been made in motor transport of the heavier type. "I was pleased to see that the Leyland works were going at full capacity. This applies pretty well to the motor industry in Great Britain, thanks very largely to the McKcnna duties. For the sake of tho trade and of the large body of workmen now employed it is to be hoped that the Labour Government is not foolish enough to remove these duties and allow the foreigner to swamp one of the few protected industries in the Homeland. "Judging by the way they are developing the Austin folk will soon be the 'Ford' of England. Mass production methods are in operation, and I was pleased to see the assembly line much on the same basis as in the Ford works. There is not, however, the same amount of automatic machinery, nor are labour-saving devices in operation to the same extent,"