IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 22 September 1930, Page 6

IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA.

CHRISTCHURCH MAN'S OBSERVATIONS.

MR W. H. MONTGOMERY BACK.

Mr W. H. Montgomery, of Christchurch, who has returned from a visit to the United States of America, has made interesting observations of the country he visited, particularly of California.

" There are no outward signs of depression in California," said Mr Montgomery, to a reporter on Saturday, " because it is in that part of the country that the retired capitalists live. They make their money in the East, and then move West to Los Angeles and Pasadena, to spend it. Business people, however, refer constantly to the trade depression and to the great losses suffered during the fall iu stocks some months previous to my visit. "The American public gambles very largely in stock, anfl among all classes this seems to take the place of racing in New Zealand to a great oxtent.''

There were very few racecourses in America, continued Mr Montgomery, and the papers gave little space to the sport. This was in marked contrast to the prominence given to the turf in English countries. "There are said to be 6,000,000 unemployed in the United States, and I was informed that thero wore 37,000 in Los Angeles, although while I was there I saw no unemployed, and was accosted by only two beggars during my whole stay. The newspapers rarely referred to the position." Timber Waste. Mr Montgomery has an interest in forestry, and formed the opinion while in America, that the people of that country were quite as wasteful of their timber as wore New Zealanders. "Everywhere in California one sees gigantic stumps and miles of hillside denuded by fire. In places thero is evidence of mighty forests once having existed. Somo recently grown forests of redwood may be seen, for that species grows rapidly." The visitor was also impressed by tho great Sequoia gigantica growing in the Yosemi National Park. Somo of these were 30 feet in diameter, he said, and wbei milled, produced hair a million superficial feet of timber. It was estimated that some of the trees were 4000 years old. and wore probably survivors of the glacial period in America, They were now protectod, and in their neighbourhood tourists were not even allowed to smoko cigarettes.

A Common Prejudice. "There is in New Zealand, unfortunately, a prejudice against Americans, while at the same time Americans are prejudiced against English people, *' continued Mr Montgomery. "In New Zealand this prejudice rises largely from tho fact that Americans became so rich through the Great War and is also due to the high American tariffs. In America the anti-British feeling arises in part from tho distorted view of British history given in the schoolbooks. The Hearst newspaper influence is also a bad one.

"I myself found the Americans friendly and hospitable. I think that it is time some organisation was formed to cultivate harmony between the two countries, as the present prejudices do much harm."

Mr Montgomery was impressed with the efficiency and sire of the American hotels. The biggest of them have from 500 to 1000 bedrooms, many of them equipped with separate bathrooms. Tariffs often rise as one goes higher up in the building, because of the magnificent views obtained.

Mr Montgomery did not think that one paid more dearly for the same accommodation in California tbaD in New Zealand. Many of the hotels charged higher than the best of the Dominion houses, but one got greater comfort and better service.

Meals ran from a half to two dollars, but it was customary to take meals, other than breakfast, in the restaurants.