GLOOMY PICTURE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 73, 19 December 1928, Page 10

GLOOMY PICTURE

CONDITIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN TO-DAY

CONTRAST TO CONTINENTAL ACTIVITIES

RETURNED NEW ZEALANDER’S IMPRESSIONS A gloomy picture of industrial and farming conditions in Great Britain is painted by a Christchurch resident who has just returned from a trip. Conditions on the Continent are presented by the observer in somewhat sharp contrast. Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, December 18. “London is living on its interest," said Mr. A. I. Rattray, secretary of the Metropolitan Trotting Club, who arrived back in Christchurch this morning, after a ten mouths’ tour abroad. Mr. Rattray's trip, which was undertaken largely for health reasons, embraced Great Britain and the Continent and America. He has returned fully restored to health, but by no means pleased with the conditions he found prevailing in the Old Country. Mr. Rattray toured about 1800 miles in Great Britain by car. Idle Lands. “The country is very pretty,” he said, “but unfortunately it-is not used to the extent that it should be. You will pass thousands upon thousands of acres of land and not see a beast on it.” Mr. Rattray said a good deal of this was due to the large estates, many of which were now being broken up. The impression that he gained from his tour through the country districts, however, was that the land was not being profitably used.” The farmers are terribly dissatisfied,” he added. “They maintain that they have not a sufficient margin to keep going what with taxes and one thing and another. Whether conditions will improve or not you cannot tell. Many of the things that I noticed were noticed by other people from New Zealand who visited England.” Mr. Rattray said the industrial depression was very marked. “You will pass coal mine after coal mine that has been shut down,” he said. “There were fifteen mines shut up in one month in Fifeshire. While I was in Edinburgh I met miners with their families tramping round the roads and trying to get shake-downs at farm houses. It was heart-rending to see the poor little kiddies.” As to the causes for this condition, Mr. Rattray was unable to venture a definite opinion. He thought that it was due in the first instance to the strikes.

A Saddening Sight.

“Then again,” he said, “the industries in England are languishing. They are not as they should be. I met people in Glasgow who told me they had lost the linen industry to Italy. I met people in Glasgow who told me they had lost the rope industry.” Going down the Clyde, Mr. Rattray said it was really saddening to see the number of slips' that were empty. “There were dozens and dozens of them unoccupied by vessels,” he said. “I understand that th. position has improved a little since. The industrial outlook all round is bad, as they cannot compete against the Continent. “When I was Home there were 1,350,000 unemployed,” added Mr. Rattray. “I spoke to some operatives at some printing works, and they told me that another half a million could be added to the number of those out of work who had not registered. When I went to the Royal Show I passed a registry office, and outside it there was a queue that was about a quarter of a mile long—men waiting to register. I don’t quite know what the trouble is. The people seem to have got into a groove, and they are not able to get themselves out of it.” A Contrast. “Ah!” he exclaimed in answer to a question as to how things appeared on the Continent. “There you have a different story.” He said that “The Times” sent a special commissioner to France who made inquiries from the highest authorities and could find only 1300 unemployed in the country. “Every acre of France is used,” said Mr. Rattray. “There are vineyards, vegetable farms, farms growing flowers for the Londou market, wheat and other crops all on small holdings. On my way to Marseilles I passed a valley where there were thousands and thousands of cattle grazing. All the industries are going at full swing. You see villages all with their factories going. Italy is the same and so is Switzerland. In Belgium there is also great activity and great agricultural production. The iron works are going full swing both there and in Al-sace-Lorraine. In Belgium every little homestead has its herd of cattle. Everywhere on the Continent there is activity —it is totally different from England.” “The dole is a great curse in England. If they give the dole they should make the men work for it, even if it is only on the roads.”