AROUND THE WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20287, 21 December 1927, Page 10

AROUND THE WORLD.

MR H. R. SPENCE RETURNS. IMPRESSIONS BY THE WAYRENEWING EXHIBITION FRIENDSHIPS. A well-known humorous writer of the present day has written enthusiastically of what ho calls his discovery of England. Speaking of London, he observes that it is a very Mg and prosperous city, with a great future before it, and he proceeds to add a few kindly words of encouragement, just to stimulate the town to fresh efforts. Other people besides Professor Stephen Leacock have crossed the raging main to have a look at this well-known town with the bright outlook, and all have formed impressions based, more or less, on the lines referred to by the satirical Mr Leacock. But their impressions, whatever they are, are generally of interest, both to those who know' the hub of Empire and to those who ish to know it. At least one man who should be qualified to speak on matters relating to travel is Mr H. R. Spence, who, it will be remembered, was secretary of the late Exhibition, and who left Dunedin with his wife about 11 months ago on a visit to Great Britain, Ireland, and the Continent, calling eu route at the Australian ports and at South Africa. Mr Spence has just returned to Dunedin, looking hale and hearty after his long vacation, and is at present staying at the Grand Hotel. Ho came back by way of the United States and Canada, and reached Auckland by the last trip of the Aorangi from Vancouver. He did not go to England with any idea of “ discovering ” it —that having jirobably been done on a previous visit—but he gave an interesting account of some of his impressions, without making any claim to originality. It appeared to him that economic conditions in the Home Land were improving, and a hopeful sign was the apparent desire of both employers and employees to have round-the-table conferences where they could thresh out their differences without resorting to direct action, such as strikes, lock-outs, etc. There seemed to bo a confirmed impression, too, that the payment of the dole had tended to sap the individuality of the worker, and there bad been a groat deal of adverse comment on it by leading business men. He understood that there w'ero propos: is on foot now to restrict its operation in regard to single men. “Of course, in a largo place like London,” Mr Spence added, it is difficult to judge whether there is unemployment or not, but I was particularly struck by the many signs of progress—the extension of railways, the formation of now roads, the now buildings that arc springing up, and the various public works that are under way. This is evident not only in England, but also on the Continent and in America. Everywhcie, too, the roads were wonderful. 1 suppose we must have, travelled over 3000 miles oy motor car and motor coach, and the roads wore perfect everywhere.’ Mr Spence also noted a groat extension of the residential areas in the suburbs of London, in the city and its environs the traffic problem arising from the enormous increase of the number of motor cars and buses was becoming acute, and several of the principal streets bear the notice One way traffic oply." , Asked whether he was greatly troubled by the tipping system which seems to have driven inexperienced tourists to the verm of insanity, Mr Spence did not even start to his feet with a loud imprecation and sav that that iniquitous practice would !,,, vp i’ 0 s iop. ” Oh, no, it wasn t bad, ho said easily. ”As a matter of fact, most of the hotels on the Continent make, a, charge of 10 per cent, on the “Vi, 101 service, and tipping is not Mowed. fheic are notices to that effect. Of course travelling, as I was, through a tourist ancncv, I simply set aside a certain sum for tips and was consequently spared a good deal of trouble. One place I struck -I think it was in Italy-charged 15 per cent, for fervice, ( That seemed to be croincr n bit too fn.i- . ~ , , seem to he a iood subject for a Bateman cartoon but Mr Spence encountered that rS at one hotel. -Ho had been, particularly attentive to us, he said, and would hurry to open all doors for Mrs Spence and give her every assistance possible so that when the time came to leave I naturally offered him a tip. Whether the notice requesting patrons not t 0 tip carried weight or whether the manager’s eye was on him I do not know, hut he refused to take it. In England Mr Spence renewed acquaintance with Mr C P. Hamswortlß who was general manager of _ the Now Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. Mi ITninsworl-h hurl been appointed managei of another largo exhibition which is to be held at Ncwcaslle-on-Tyne m 1929 and which promises to be very successful, tie also met Captain Graham who was commissioner for the British Court and M. J O. Turcntte (in Ottawa),_ the late Canadian Commissioner. Captain Graham told him that he had just received the official record of the Exhibition, and was very pleased with it. The hook had also been commented on very favourably by a number of others.