CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND

Evening Star, Issue 19327, 13 August 1926, Page 12

CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND

FEELING TOWARDS THE DOMINIONS A OELF-SUPPOP.TIKG EKE “ My summing up of the whole situation is" that for a man who has to earn his own living in any capacity New Zealand is far and away the better country to live in. If he has great wealthj and money is no .object, then there is no better country to live in than England, for there no door will he shut to him.” This view was expressed to a. Wellington ‘ Dominion ’ reporter by Mr G. S. Amos, who for seven years was the London buyer for the firm of Ross and Glendining, I/td., and has now returned to Wellington. While in England he also represented the dominion of New Zealand on the Dominions Committee of the League of Nations, under the chairmanship of Lord Buxton. “My first impression of Wellington on my arrival after seven years’ absence from it in England is ono of wonderment at its remarkable growth,” said Mr Amos. “It is really astonishing to see the great number of huge buildings that have, and are, being erected." Secondly, I was impressed by the largo number of motor cars of high power in the city. London is full of motor cars, but they are all of the low-powered variety. Thirdly, New Zealand is just as up to date in its fashions as the people are in England. This fact I attribute to the shortening of the distance between New Zealand and England by moans of improved shipping facilities and the great advance in wireless and cable communication. From the time our boat left Southampton to the time it entered the Wellington Heads wo never missed a single day in the matter of receiving English and Continental news from tho great wireless station at Rugby. As far as knowing what the Old World is doing, the one-time isolation of 13,000 mi'es has entirely disappeared. It would be strange, indeed, if such factors as these did not have a great effect on the life of the people of New Zealand. Since my return I have been looking at the retail shops, and I am impressed by the foot that they are handling a better class of goods, and, having regard to the heavy _ freights and duties charged on tho imported article, their retail prices compare very favorably with the prices for the same articles in London. I have seen no instances in which one with _ a knowledge of the articles being retailed could say tho public here arc being victimised.

“ As regards the conditions in England, the general strike, although very serious, has had a beneficial effect on the industrial situation. Tt has cleared the air of a lot of unrest., and has restored a more hopeful and optimistic tone in business circles than has prevailed during the last few years. Industrial workers have settled down to hard work, as they realise that ‘ more production ’ is the best horse to back, and is sure to return a dividend. INTEREMPIRE TRADE.

“It is impossible to remain long in England and not bo convinced that there is a very strong feeling for InterEmpire trade right throughout the whole country. Every business centre holds Empire shopping weeks. New' Zealand produce is widely advertised and displayed in shop windows._ Certain firms have devoted whole windows to New ZeahuM,produce, One sees New Zealand lamb suitably labelled iu shops throughout the whole of England. WANT TO DO BUSINESS. .“Englishmen want, more than ever, to do business with New Zealand, but some find it hard to understand why, while the overseas dominions are clamoring for Imperial preference for their produce, they arc, at the same time, adding such high duties to the English manufactured goods they import. One can always use the argument that whatever duties are put on the English article higher duties are always put on the foreign article. But the English manufacturers • always feel that what tho overseas produce,! - has to pay for his imported goods, the higher price it is necessary for him to obtain for his produce in England. It is the commencement of the vicious circle in which high prices arc not always advantageous to hot producer, or high wages advantageous to tho consumer. Also, if through prohibitive tariffs manufactured goods are barred from the dominions, and the manufacturers lose these markets, it means the British working man has no money to spend on dominion produced foodstuffs. It is impossible, after living in England and being brought into daily contact with the points of view of the manufacturers, and also the workmen, not to arrive at tho conclusion that in many cases it would be much better for the dominions to concentrate on a more intensive production of their primary products, and leave the manufacturing of goods to those countries most suited to that part of production and that are much better equipped for it. English manufacturers point out that, by reason of her distance from paying export markets, and her own very limited population, New Zealand can never he a manufacturing country. To he that to-day demands mass production, for only by that means, and the certainty of disposing of the stuff so manufactured, can she hope to succeed in her object. It is also pointed out, and one is not long in England without realising its truth, that the more British goods are shipped to New Zealand the more can New Zealand produce he bought and consumed in England by tho British working man, because the necessity for manufacturing for larger markets means more employment for the people at Horae. The opinion at Homo is that the Empire can certainly bo self-sup-porting, contingent upon the colonies producing what they are host fitted to produce. Such a distribution of energies would put money into the pockets of British workmen by virtue of increased employment, and render them potential, and, indeed, actual, purchasers of the increased export productivity of foodstuffs and raw materials. The necessity of dispensing with duties, except for revenue purposes, would permit tho. English manufactured article to be sold at a much less price than is now possible. English feeling at Homo is that, by some such scheme as this, a process of co-operation, both countries would become even more prosperous. Tho advantage of leaving other countries to produce that which they are most fitted to produce is realised by England in the matter of cheap toys. Knowing full well that she cannot make toys as cheaply as Germany, she leaves the industry to that nation. There is no had feeling about it. It is merely a practical demonstration of tho desirability of the distribution of labor in our modern world.” RESULT OF TARIFFS.

Mr Amos instanced the motor car industry as a case where, because the tariffs prevented foreign countries competing in the English market, capitalists from those foreign countries have erected factories in England, and are emjdoying English workmen. An American linn has also set up its factories in the hosiery manufacture lino. Ho also stated that it is the day of the big stores in the Old Country. They make their enormous profits not by increasing prices, but by increased efficiency, a better organised stall', and the elimination of waste and overlapping. Indeed, these large organisations may be said to be benefiting the public and not robbing them, as is the case with so many combines.

A fine tribute to Sir James Allen, the late High Commissioner for New Pealand, was paid by Mr Amos. “Sir James Allen was extremely wtll thought of in Loudon,” ho said, “and

he will be greatly missed. Ho lias set a groat example to all New _ Zealand in upholding the honor* and dignity ol this dominion. In all that ho did he set a very high standard, and he in ado it a great privilege at Homo to no a New Zealander.”

Four pounds a week, Mr Amos thought, was a comfortable Living wage for a working mau in England. Most of the factory hands were being paid by piece work. Some who have not got over the easy money-making of the war vears, although they could earn £5 a'week, knock off when they have earned £4. This state of affairs is last remedying itself since the general strike. POLITICS. “ In the realm of politics,” said Mr Amos, “Mr Stanley Baldwin is thought very highly of among all parties. Uis conduct during the strike created a very favorable impression. His organisation to cope with the strike was .wonderful. After the first day there was practically no chaos. Even the transport facilities in London.far exceeded the requirements. The conduct of the public was simply wonderful. Mr Baldwin is regarded as the moral factor in the present Government, and he is the pivot round whom the others move. Lord Birkenhead is looked on as the brains of the show. Winston Churchill is the supriso packet of the Conservative Party. Mr Thomas, of the Labor Party, is looked upon a.s a great Imperialist, and is a favorite with all parties. Lord Buxton, Sir Austen Chamberlain, Ormsby-Gore. Colonel Amcry, and Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister are all very able men with a, great ambition to foster Empire trade. DAY OF Til AMS NUMBERED.

Tt was observed by Mr Amos that bho day of tramcars in England was numbered. Motor bus competition wa-s becoming altogether too keen. The buses were faster, more convenient, and they could take more varied and shorier routes. The railways also were sobering greatly from motor lorry competition. Many firms in the Midlands and the North of England dispensed altogether with the train service, and utilised their own lorry service. They wpnld load up and travel to London by night along the most perfect roads. The price of building sections was also a matter which came within Mr Amos’s purview, and his compari-ma was not altogether favorable to Wellington from the point of view of sweet reasonableness. Before leaving for lingland seven years ago he disposed 'of a building section in Seatoun for ,L'2so. He was assured its value to-day was £<loo. He puicha-sod a .section of equal size in Goklers Green, a now, and desirable suburb, eight miles from the heart of London, and with a threcmimitc train .service by two lines as well as trams and buses, for Houses also are cheaper in London maif in New Zealand. It is, however, almost impossible to rent houses there, for there is still a great shortage of them to suit the man ol moderate means.