IN THE OLD LAND.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 December 1924, Page 2

IN THE OLD LAND.

INTERESTING ISIPRESSION§.

Interesting impressions gained on his world torn- were given at the annual meeting of the Eltham Chamber of Commerce on Monday night by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson. The speaker referred to the intensive farming carried on in England, and said there were more buildings on one farm there than on ten in Taranaki, tie mentioned the unsatisfactory climate which the English farmer had to contend with, and said that during the summer while he was there it rained practically every other day. Grain lay rotting in the fields because the wet weather would not allow of its being harvested. He found that New Zealand was not well known —in fact, it was practically unknown in the Old Country. It was a strange thing to say, but they were not even interested in New Zealand. This country *was only a very tiny spot on the map. but a little was known about New Zealand mutton and butter. Speaking of immigration, Mr. 'Wilkinson said that it was impossible to get the husky type of English farm labourer to come out to New Zealand, for the simple- reason that they were not there to get. They could get people from the towns, but they were not the best. He was not impressed by the queues of unemployed, 300 yards in length, which lined up for the dole. If they wanted the husky type of labourer they would have to look elsewhere. He did not want those present to think that he was not a loyal Englishman, hut lie was speaking of facts.

Referring to Wembley, the speaker said there was no doubt about it that it was a wonderfully good exhibition. The palaces of engineering and arts were excellent, there being, no doubt about England excelling in the manufacture of heavy machinery. New Zea. land had done fairly well only, and he was inclined to think that the men New Zealand had sent Home to attend to the New Zealand Court were not the best men for the work. Further, Mr. Wilkinson said he did not think it was a very wise move to continue the Exhibition another year. It cost a lot to run, and there was a chance of it degenerating into a second-rate “show.” Efe thought they would have a job to popularise it, and added that he had met many Londoners who had not been to Wembley. Speaking of tlie cost of the exhibition, Mr. Wilkinson instanced the case of one pageant which cost the princely sum of £60,000. However, he thought the exhibitien would do a lot of good in the direction of bringing British people together in a way that no other scheme could have done. Asked what he thought of daylight saving in operation, the speaker said that his experience of it in the Old Country had been that it was an “infernal nuisance.” It suited those who wanted to play, hut not those who wanted to work. The cost of living in England, said Mr. Wilkinson, was high when it came to good articles. A good dinner cost about 8s or 9s. New Zealand butter was well and favourably known and was displayed in most of the stores. The brand that was best known was the Anchor brand from Auckland. However, the English consumer would buy wherever he could purchase the cheapest. If the article was good and cheap the consumer would-have it, and there was no such thing a$ colonial preference. The English people generally would not stand taxation to give the colonies preference in connection with foodstuffs. “The Government that says they will tax food goes out at the next election,” said Mr. Wilkinson. , Continuing, the speaker said that New Zealand waS importing rails, etc., which had come into England from foreign countries, and at the same time was taxing the foreigner right out. To go, and block ourselves Horn getting the productions of other countries, and give England preference when they did not give us any, was foolish. In England he found that tlie duty on American motor-ears had been removed. Englishmen were not going. to shelter trades, but as a matter of public policy they were going to ‘get goods at the least possible l prices. “If I were in England I would be a free trader and deal with as much of the world as possible,” said Mr. Wilkinson. “The Government should he told that we do not want to pay the prices that we do simply because the goods come from England. We want to extend our custom. We are English to the backbone, but we must look ahead. Our minds must be open, and we must not stick, as we are sticking, in one groove.”

Touching on conditions at Home, Mr. TVilkinson said that the population was increasing and the work decreasing, and something had to he done. -In France children were not numerous, and work was so plentiful that workers had to be brought into the country. However, England was a mighty country, and nothing was likely 'to wrest its trading supremacy from it. In conclusion, Mr. Wilkinson said that New Zealand was the best country that anyone could find and live in, and he was satisfied that it was better than anywhere else in the world.