CONDITIONS AT HOME

Southland Times, Issue 18985, 20 November 1920, Page 5

CONDITIONS AT HOME

MR P. SELIG’S IMPRESSIONS. Unemployment generally was increasing in the Old Country, and when he left London to return to New Zealand there was a general opinion that the coming winter would be a particularly hard one for many thousands of people (said Mr P. Selig, of Christchurch, to an interviewer). The talk of a revolution in England seemed to him to be very wild. In any case, it was not directed airainst the Crown, but against the system jfiat was believed to have brought about severe conditions. At the same time, unemployment undoubtedly was one of the most serious problems of the day. In spite of the conditions in that respect, Mr Selig found that it was difficult to obtain accommodation even of the most expensive character, and it seemed to him that there was no end to the spending of money in London. Hotels seemed always to be crowded. Large business concerns were tending towards amalgamation and reconstruction. Almost every day some large firm or company invited increased capital. Gilt-edged investments, with a high rate of interest, were offered by them, and in response millions of pounds were subscribed in a few days. In Paris, he saw evidence of prosperity in business, but, outside the bright parts of the city the buildines had’ a shabby and frowsy appearance. The Parisian .taxis were the worst he had been driven in. The tramcara and railway carriages were dilapidated. In Belgium, where men and women work night and day on their farms, everything seemed to be Lb apple-pie order as well as prosperous. The people of Cologne seemed de-' jected and dispirited. The Cologne food—black bread was one of the items—was described by him as being anything but inviting to an Enyi«hmn.n