ENGLAND TO-DAY

Evening Star, Issue 19197, 13 March 1926, Page 23

ENGLAND TO-DAY

INDOSTBIAL CONDITIONS MEW ZEALAND TOURIST'S IMPRESSIONS “Things in England appear to ha more or less prosperous,” said Mr A. K. Hadfield, of Christchurch, who has just returned from a twelve-months’ sojourn in the Old Country, to a reporter of the ‘Press,’ “though there are tremendous problems, such as the coal dispute. “ Money seemed to be quite plentiful when I was there, and share issues that were at all sound, and that were favorably commented upon by the financial papers, were eagerly taken up. One issue of German industrial shares, underwritten in London, was over-sub-scribed twenty times.” Numerous Industries were absolutely stagnant, said Mr Hadfield, and the shipbuilding and stock and iron trades were having a very difficult time. Outside of Glasgow Mr Hadfield saw acres of shipbuilding yards empty. However, an improvement was foreshadowed, and there seemed a chance of a revival in those concerns. Retail businesses appeared_ to be on a quite satisfactory basis, if one could judge by the tremendous crowds that thronged the stores.

Mr Stanley Baldwin, whom Mr Hadfield saw in the House, was giving all his energy in his attempts to bring about settlements, and Mr Hadfield said that he was a bundle of nerves, and could_ not last at the pressure he was working. The potty criticisms levelled at Mr Baldwin and his administration were not honest, and it appeared that his efforts were appreciated ny the foremost lenders of the Labor Party, notably Mr J. R. Clyr.cs and Mr J. IL Thomas. MOTOR INDUSTRY. . ” The motor industry is not succeeding,” continued Mr Hadfield, “and solely through bad management. This should ho one of the foremost industries in England, but. generally it is in a precarious condition, as the companies are over-capitalised, and their selling organisations arc much inferior to those of tho American firms. A. very largo percentage of tho cars in England are of British manufacture, hut, value for value, the American car is in advance of tho British machine. One facto? which prevents tho large sale of United states cars_ in England is tho motor tax, which is assessed on the minimtilß horse-power. The income derived from tins source and from motor registration fees amounts to over £15,000,000 per annum.

ar ,< Tr e l r , ?a ls !7 li ‘ i( ’ d in tl)is said air Jlaofield, are expended on road maintenance. Although the tax appears a high one, the benefits to motorists on account of the wonderful roads are very groat. Not only is the depreciation a great deni Jess on account of the roads but also it gives almost 3QQ per cent, longer life to the tyres.” the traveller considered that now more than ever, it seemed to ho a duty to assist in any reasonable immigration scheme which would relieve theunemployment at Home, hut it was a greater “3 endeavor to purchase British SraT i /JUitG an organised « tempt in England now to encourage tiie purchase of goods produced in the Empire. Mr Had field together with his wife and Miss J. Dawe, of Christchurch, spent twelve months in England and on tne Continent, and motored over a great part of England and Scotland, n eight months’ motoring the party had only one wot day, and that practically at the close of the tour. They also visited France, Belgium, and Italy, spending some time on the Riviera. One visit which particularly impressed itsejf upon' the minds of the visitors was that of Haarlem, whore the bulb exposition is held, while Mr Hadfiold was struck with the primitive methods the Dutch oinplov in the marketing and production of their cheese. .