TEMPER OF FRANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19413, 23 August 1926, Page 10

TEMPER OF FRANCE.

TREATMENT OF TOURISTS. HOSTILITY TOWARD BRITAIN.' NEW ZEALANDER'S "Hostility to everything British is manifest throughout France, and the ill-' feeling is often revealed! to travellers by Bome discourteous minor official,," said Dr. F. D. Pinfold, of Hamilton, who returned on Saturday from a tour.; of Britain and Western .Europe. ■ •.<? ; Dr. Pinfold said it was abundantly clear to tourists that the temper of the French nation was ready to fluctuate with the exchange value of the , franc. Tourists' were being made the scapegoats for. what, the French, belie'ved. was ; finaivciM juggling by Britain. Shopkeepers were only as civil as was necessary 'for business reasons, but those who had nothing to rose'. 1 by lack of tact did not dis-; guise their grievances. Civil 'servants were not remiss in displaying their rancour, and the English'-speaking' traveller* received abrupt treatment by customs officials. American' visitors' usually ! met with the same "reception as Englishmen, 1 the popular feeling reedgnxsing no ' fine distinctions.

In Belgium the relationships were unchanged. The contrast in the attitude of the officials there was most apparent to travellers who had experience of France.

Dr. Pinfold remarked that the tourist who made small purchases had to pay prices which included some obscure tax, concerning which the shopkeeper was usually as puzzled as his customer. Taxation wa3 applied' through so many channels that evasions were common.

Dr. Pinfold cited a personal experience as an indication of the chaotic Commercial situation. He was considering the purchase of a French motor-car,-and its price, ■converted into English currency, was , about, £SOO. As an inducement, the French .firm, a concern of high stan'ding, offered to issue an invoice for about £350, so that the luxury tax would be substantially evaded. "However,, I have, brought back an English ,cax", said Dr.' Pinfold.