Returned Travellers

Southland Times, Issue 19262, 28 January 1904, Page 2

Returned Travellers

Messrs E. H. Godward and D. W. McKay returned to Invercarglll on Tuesday, after visiting Australia and America in tho interests of the Qodward Spiral Vln Company, la a short chat with a mem« ber of our staff, Mr Godward gave an interesting account of his and Mr MCi KHy's travels, and his own impression* ps far as America was concerned- They loft on their mission about seven months ago, going first to Melbourne and Sydney, and them© to San, Francisco. They visited the chief (machine manufactories in the different centres, making enquiries as to the most suitable firm to deal with on belinlf of tho company. Speaking gep.Qr* ally. Mr Godward says that what struck him strongly was the expensive matter it is for a traveller to get about. Everything is run on the lines evidently of increasing the " almighty dollar "—people -speak of a dollar much as one in New Zealand would of Is, and the traveller found it impossible to get a decent bed or dinner without parting with three or four dollars for each. The wages of too American working-mar, he does not consider to be in proportion to tho cost of living, and on an all-round comparison the New Zoalander is very much better oft. In manufacturing, he found the mechanics made a good article, but do not go in for tho outside finish of the goods. In building locomotives, for instance, they make a splendid machine as far a« the working parts are concerned, but in finish, compared with an Enfcliflh engine, it is nowhere. The .Americans do not want an engine to last more than ten years, as by that time it is out-of-date— they have had all the wear that is wanted out of it. and it is consigned to the oldiror.. yard. Socially, Mr Godward says, the Amer. icans do not indulge in many " home " functions, their pleasures being chiefly outside amusements. Very few think of having what colonials would call a musical evening with their friends. High-class music ia evidently at a discount, thft public favour running strongly to " ragtime " music and variety shows, in which the Americans arc unapproachable. In regard to the foreign element in the States, Mr Godward says that there are many Italians, Germans and Irish (thu last two accounting for a very strong feeling against Britain), but generally the collection of inhabitants is most cosmopolitan. The Italians are the cheap labour of the land, and they are In. « largo measure responsible for the speedy completion of railroadg, tram-lines, etc. They are paid at a rate which an American labourer would not look at, and, though not so " slick " as ibe latter, work all hours and aro fairly trustworthy. Gangs of 100 or thereabout were engaged ia the installation of an electric tram-line in New York, and the traffic was never stopped while the old line was replaced. A new system of electric traction is being adopted, which does away with tho overhead wires and poles. A third line is laid, containing a hollow tube, which connects with a small motor on the car and supplies the required power. This system is being adopted to all the large centres. The subject of " Elijah " Dowie was brought up, and Mr Godward gave an account which rather contradicts the American cables. <He says that Dowie has a .most fascinating personality, and is simply irresistible. P«ople,gO to his meetings intending tb argue the point, but on hearing him they at once come under his magnetic sway. Those who do munagc to get on their feet are .at opce selected by the "prophet," who. speedily puts them in their places before they can got a word in. Bowie's people struck Mr Godward as being particularly sensible and level-headed, and not at all like people one would expect to sea led by the nose. They made a thorough canvass of New York, distiibuting literature, and Irtofuing it entirely optional to people whether they subscribed or not to' the Zion funds. They had immense meetings in Madison Square Gardens, Mr Qodward finding it impossible to get anywhere near the speaker. Referring to the mission on which the visitors w'ero bound. Mr Godward said that, though at first rather discouraged, they had been eminently successful. The pin was not properly on the market, and there were some defects in its manufacture to be remedied- After negotiations, it was decided .to form on International Pin Company, and an arrangement was made with Cushman and Dennison, of New York, to produce machines for manufacturing the pin. Tho Godward Company receive two-fifths interest in fully pnid-up shares in the International Company, which has • a capital of 500,000 dollars, and 10 per cent, interest on the gross output. This transaction has already been closed, and the company ia fonmed and registered. Meetings of tho shareholders were held in Auckland and Dunedin. at which votes of thanks were tendered to Messrs Godward and McKay for the satisfactory result of their mission.