RECOVERY IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26886, 12 November 1952, Page 3

RECOVERY IN BRITAIN

View Of Christchurch

Accountant

GREATER EFFORT FROM WORKERS NEEDED

Great Britain had the opportunity of regaining its position at the head of world trade it the workers were prepared to make a greater effort, said Mr S. W. Jameson, a Christchurch accountant, in an interview yesterday. Mr Jameson returned recently from a visit to England. The working people, generally, appeared to be realising the seriousness of the situation and were making a greater effort, he said. The Government, also, appeared to be handling the situation competently. Britain’s economic position was very doubtful. Several overseas markets had been lost, Mr Jameson said. “I was very impressed by the way British goods were packed for sale, but if they wish to maintain their outside trade, they must maintain their quality,” he said.

The hotel industry was one in which employees worked well, and a continuous service was provided for tourists and ordinary patrons. It was nothing for the staff to be still serving dinner at 10 p.m.. Mr Jameson said.

“After seeing the English hotels and taverns, which were scrupulously clean. I will not vote for 6 o’clock closing again,” he said. He considered that New Zealand hotels, with the rushed drinking between 5 o’clock and . 6 o’clock, had much to learn from the English way of drinking. “I have not got a good word to say for our hotels after being in England,” Mr Jameson said. The only objection he had to hotels in England was the need for tipping. Even in hotels where there was an extra 10 per cent, added to the bill for service, it was still necessary to tip if service was desired, he said The • police and traffic officers in England had a different attitude from that in New Zealand, Mr Jameson said. “If you get into a jam going the wrong way in a one-way street, they go out of their way to help. rather than pounce on you.” he said. He was particularly impressed with the system of control on the main highways. There traffic approaching from side roads automatically gave way to the main stream of traffic, but if such regulations were broken, the police could be very severe.

Food Parcels Still Necessary . “New Zealand people should not stop sending food parcels to England,” Mr Jameson said. Most appreciated were tinned meat and butter. With a ration of only 2oz a week, it was not possible for housewives to make cakes, and it was also difficult to describe the cakes which were made. “I cannot stress enough the need to continue with the sending of parcels,” he said. “The people are healthy enough, and the children are grand, but there is not enough variety in the diet.”

Tradespeople in New Zealand could also learn a lesson from England, Mr Jameson said. He and Mrs Jameson, he said, found shopkeepers far more courteous than they were in New Zealand, and were always willing to oblige a customer, even leaving their shops to point out the way to another area. When the shopkeeper found they were from New Zealand every endeavour was made to satisfy them. This extra service he attributed to the good name established by New Zealand servicemen in England during the war. Television was a wonderful invention, but being only in black and white had disadvantages compared with some programmes, and would be better in colour. Mr Jameson said. The present form was very satisfactory for sports such as football, tennis and cricket.