WHAT ENGLAND TEACHES.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13981, 17 November 1917, Page 6

WHAT ENGLAND TEACHES.

•THE FUTILITY OF GRUMBLING,

"The thing that strikes me most forcibly on returning from England," said Mr Ultan McCabe, of McCabe and 'Richardson, "is the amount of grumblingnand grousing at the curtailment of this and that in this country, The people do not'appcar to realise that at the present time this is the best spot on the face of the earth, and they ought to be very thankful they are here. Take your railways and nil this grumbling about Ihc restriction of race; day traffic. It is absurd, and I think the railway authorities arc doing absolutely (lie right thing under the circumstances, and would be justified in going further. Take the case of England. There, all the fares have gone up 50 per cent., and no one is allowed to. take more than 1001b of personal luggage. I've actually seen a guard weighing a trunk, and because it weighed 1051b he refused to pass it, : i and the owner had to unpack it, take I out about 1011) weight of stuff, and send I it on by parcels post. Wherever a rail-! way service has been found not to be absolutely essential in the general interest" of the country, it has been"suspended, and in several instances the tracks have been taken up and sent; over \p France for use behind the lines, where,there is now a network of, lines representing upwards of 5(100 miles of track. .

'"■ l happened to be at one of the American Club luncheons one'day when Lord Northclifl'o introduced to those present .a'■wonderful' railway organiser,' who Imd been brought, over from America to hike the inanngcment, of the traffic,\aml ho said then that, the railway system behind the English and French lines dwarfed every other system in the world, and yet it was being all controlled by a few men posted at the important junctions, who directed ,tlic traffic as effectively as the 'police; controlled-the street traffic of London And ,ill the time additions tti'io being nride to the tuck mileage ind lolling stoik Lines had been toin up in Canada and Knglaml foi use in I'iaiiK, and now America would be helping stilistimtialh to extend tliehue uoik ot i.tilw.l vs that ncre suth iu mi pmtant hitoi in the winning 'nl the w n hi the light <>l Hint is going on it Home, ind the grumbling one hens heie ilionf pctt\ lestiictinni, 4 it nno empty plirnsi when it is said that Ncn ' Zealand hnidly knows that there is a pvat wai in progren"