CONDITIONS IN AMERICA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15874, 13 July 1922, Page 7

CONDITIONS IN AMERICA.

Tj; VDIC, PROHIBITION, AND OII'AHITY LUND. TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND ' PRESS. (Special to the Herald.l OHRISTCHOROD, this day. Some interesting remarks on the conditions in America were made, by Mr A. W. Jamieson, manager of tlie New Zealand' Farmers' Co-operative Association of Canterbury, who has just returned from a visit to the United Slates and Canada.

■ "From the reports received in New Zealand regarding' the conditions abroad," said Mr Jamieson, "one expected to encounter an atmosphere of depression in America, "hut. while ho was in that- country the. depression which had existed disappeared, and there was every sign of the country recovering its former prosperity. Money was becoming cheaper, and industrial pursuits were- being reconstructed, and were now working at" full time. The domestic tradei was keeping business liri.sk, and the export trade was recovering. This; was most manifest in connection with the motor and allied trades.

Referring to prohibition. Mr Jamieson said that he felt it would be presumption on the part of any individual to make a definite statement on this groat question after n hurried visit to America. The Government certainly had groat difficulty in coping with the illicit liquor trade, and) in certain quarters there were great quantities of liquor. Much oi' this was of very mediocre quality, and a high price was charged for it. Opinion in the various districts differed. Jn the larger cities there was a, desire to return to the old laws, but that -was out of the question, for America would never again allow the establishment of saloons, which were merely drinking shops and made no attempt to provide accommodation, as was done, by hotels in this Dominion. In some districts in Canada, where prohibition had been in operation for a longer time than in the United States, liquor was sold only under Government seal, and was obtainable at any druggist's, at a very high price.

Mr Jamieson jwiid a high tribute to the standard of journalism maintained by the press in New Zealand. He was quite convinced that Lord Northcltffo'S statement that the newspapers in New Zealand compared favorably \yith' those of any other country in the world was mare than justified. After four months' experience of American newspapers he realised that,, the people of New Zealand had! a great deal to be thankful for in regard to their piess.

Some of the teilies in America have established a scheme to obviate tlm frequent appeals madic to the public on behalf of Vbnrities and other deserving objecta This is known as "the community fund," and Mr Jamieson Vatber("A a ">od deal of information on the

subject during hisi four. The object is to make one big appeal a, year, the money raised to be'vested in trustees, and allocated by them amongst various objects in the fairest proportion possible, thue eliminating the necessity for organising ft great number of appeals annually. '