TRAVELS IN AMERICA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22479, 25 January 1935, Page 10

TRAVELS IN AMERICA

MR R. S. BLACK'S IMPRESSIONS THE ECONOMIC SITUATION Returning to Dunedin yesterday after-, noon from a health-recruiting trip to the United States of America, Canada, and Nova Scotia, extending over several months, Mr R. S. Black, in conversation With an Otago Daily Times reporter last evening, indicated that the possibilities of such a tour, in which he was freed from all 'business ties, were fully exploited, and his visits to many places of great historical interest, both on the Panama Isthmus and on the North American Continent, had provided him with ample material for an interesting talk. Mr Black’s route to New York took him through the Panama Canal, where he was given an opportunity of visiting Balboa and Cristobal, his impressions of the Strangers’ Club at the latter port being of the happiest. He spent some time in New York renewing old acquaintances, and there met Dame Sybil Thorndyke, who was playing in “ The Barretts of Wimpole Street.” Dame Sybil was intensely interested in news about Dunedin and New Zealand generally, and spoke enthusiastically of her sojourns in this city. Mr Black also paid a visit to .Mrs Byrd, the wife of Rear-admiral Byrd, and was cordially entertained. Mrs Byrd announced her intention of travelling to New Zealand to welcome her husband on his return from the Antarctic. Mr Black also had the good fortune to be given an opportunity to conduct a two-way conversation with Little America from one of the New York broadcasting stations. He conversed with Admiral Byrd, Dr Potaka, and Mr Harold June. The result of this broadcast was rather interesting, for it brought in its train a large number of letters from people in various parts of America who knew Mr Black personally and who wrote to express their congratulations on the broadcast. While in the United States, Mr Black said, he seized the opportunity to advertise New Zealand, and spoke at a number of meetings, sometimes at considerable length, on the beauties and attractions of the Dominion. These talks were apparently very much appreciated, for he was continually being approached to give further addresses on the same subject. After a period in New York, Mr Black went on to Boston and Halifax, his chief aim in making the voyage to the latter city being to visit the historical buildings which date back to the days of the early colonisation of Nova Scotia. There he saw a church which had been built in 1750, under the charter of King George 11. The tremendous explosion which took place in the city some time previously had shattered all the windows with the exception of one made of stained glass, which, curiously enough, had been manufactured in Germany. Another window, which had apparently been made of frosted glass, was damaged in such a way that it presented practically a perfect human silhouette, which many people claimed to recognise ns a likeness of one of the previous ministers of the church. Included in the church property was a solid silver communion service, bearing King George Tl’s monogram, which had been in the possession of the church since its foundation, and other objects in the building gave an indication of its great antiquity. Although constructed of wood, the church was in a perfect state of preservation. Speaking of the progress of the United States under the new administration, Mr Black said that although manufacturers were forced by the N.R.A, code to increase wages, this did not materially benefit the country as a whole, as it meant that they were compelled to employ fewer workers, and the_ consequent rise in the prices of commodities also had a deleterious effect on the prosperity of_ the country. However, it might be said that in spite of this treatment for its financial and economic ills, the country was progressing slowly. An indication that more money was circulating was given in the largely-increased sales of automobiles throughout the United States. Canada was also forging ahead, and throughout the two countries there appeared to be a more settled atmosphere than has been the case for some years past.