ENGLAND TO-DAY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20076, 4 November 1930, Page 8

ENGLAND TO-DAY.

LITTLE CHANGE NOTED. COMMANDER RHODES'S OBSERVATIONS. Tn spite of financial troubles the genteral standard of living in London shows Kery little alteration on the surface. restaurants arc all full, and although many of the theatres are in a difficult financial position the better playhouses are aiwavs well patronised. This condition is due, princpially, to Khe advancement of the talkies, which (ar9 having a very noticeable effect up«on the legitimate stage." These are the views formed by CoaiSnander E. G. Bhodes, K-N"., who has Just returned to Christchurch after a tour abroad. H? informed a representative of The Pbess yesterday that one of the things that he noticed particularly in London, was the tremendous increase in fiat life. Huge blocks were being built, he said, many of them the last word in luxury. But the higaerpriced apartments were not meeting ■with the ready-letting success "was anticipated, ar.d in consequence, rents, were coming down slightly. He was informed that there vra3 overbuilding in lusurv Cats, particularly north <pf the Park.' "While there does not appear t~ bs Is great deal of change on the surface, there is still much hardship in England," said Commander Bhodes. "One farmer in - Hertfordshire—a man who farms 1700 acres, which is considered a big farm in England—told me that he had bad to reduce his wages bill as much as possible, as he had made only a bare living during the last few years. He was now turning a lot of his* land from sugar-beet growing to ordinary pasture. This hardly helped the unemployment position, but it was inevitable. "In Scotland, although it was one «f tho best grouse seasons for years, there irere fewer moors let this" year ■than in any year since the war. The reason is that the Americans are not eoming over as they used to. I was told that the Cunard people, who organise big tours, including grouseehooting for rich Americans, are not bothering about ifc now. It seems to be tbo same old tale every where—'Wall Street and Hatry.' " As to the political side the cables from England regarding the municipal elections had borne out the views lie Jiad heard expressed by many people, that the country -was tiring of the Labour Party and its principles in general, bdded Commander Bhodef=.