MONEY TO SPEND.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20898, 4 July 1933, Page 8

MONEY TO SPEND.

POSITION IN DOMINION. SOUTH AFRICAN VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS. "The impression I have received of your country is thai there is move money available for spending by the public at present than in most other countries," said Mr O. Lawson, of Cape Town, who for the last six months has been touring New Zealand. Mr Lawson is visiting Zealand on behalf of his firm, which ' manufactures electrical goods m Cape Town, and which is seeking to pstabiish a market in the Dominion. Though the existence of the depression was quite obvious in New Zealand the amount of ready money in the hands of the public was large. It was only necessary to look, for example, at the large total of the deposits in the post office savings bank. Conditions here compared very favourably with those in South Africa. "Of course, the longer distance from England is a handicap." Mr Lawson remarked. "In drawing a comparison I should say that while there is more readiness to spend in South Africa the wealth per capita in New Zealand is probablv greater." Mr Lawson said that the South African Government had been forced to go off the gold standard because of the amount of money that was being sent out of South Africa He thought that the pegging of th<=> exchange by the New Zealand Government had been quite an unnecessary action, in view of the favourable trade balance that existed.

Prospects of Recovery. Mr Lawson travelled through Australia on his way to New Zealand at the beginning o£ the year. His impression then was thai: Australia had a long way to go before rounding the corner, although on the whole business seemed to be booming. "I have not the least doubt that New Zealand will recover from her difficulties very soon," he said. "The new goldfield in the South Island is a very good omen. It will absorb many unemployed men, and thus solve some of your problems." In South Africa, he added, there was practically no unemployment problem, but labour conditions there were completely different from those in New Zealand owing to the presence of the native races. On the other hand, there was a serious racial problem. "The scenic beauty of your country is very impressive," Mr Lawson said. "It compares very favourably with, South Africa, and is probably even better from a tourist point of view. South Africa is handicapped by a lack of good roads and good hotel accommodation in the country. Your roads and the hospitality of your people are delightful. I have had a welcome here such as I should not have had in any other Dominion." Mr Lawson will stay in Christchurch for about six weeks ar.-J travel south. He will leave New Zealand to return home in Novemler.