BRITAIN TO DAY

Southland Times, Issue 19097, 15 November 1923, Page 5

BRITAIN TO DAY

THE OUTLOOK OBSCURE NEW ZEALAND’S FAVOURABLE! POSITION INTERVIEW WITH MR MITCHELL. “The position generally in Britain is faf from satisfactory and at the present moment the outlook is somewhat obscure,” said Mr J. T. F. Mitchell, manager of the Invercargill branch of Messrs Wright, Stephenson and So., who has just returned from a nine months’ tour abroad to a Southland Times representative who interviewed him yesterday morning. “But,” continued Mr Mitchell, “I do not think that she will let matters drift much longer so far as the Ruhr is concerned and probably she will make a statement either with or without the co-operation of France very soon. Britishers too, are becoming very uneasy at seeing their trade being taken from them by those of her own creditors such as France, Belgium and Italy, who won’t, or say they cannot pay the interest to Britain on their debts. Such a state of affairs is so obviously inequitable that it will not be allowed to remain much .longer. Then again the payment of the dole to the unemployed is having a demoralising effect on the country and it it is very necessary to get matters placed on a better footing very scon. In spite, however, of all her troubles the Old Country carries on her steady course in a wonderful manner, not only paying her way but at the same time reducing her indebtedness in a marvellous way, to the astonishment of Europe and America. Then again the wages, generally speaking, are higher than what they were in pre-war days, and including the payment of the dole there is actually a good deal more, money circulating than prior to the war. The businesses which cater for the public wants in clothing, foodstuffs, and daily necessities report the volume of trade as being fairly satisfactory, in fact it is rather astonishing the way their turnovers are being maintained. EXCESSIVE IMPORTATION DEPRECATED. “Exporters in the Old Country,” said Mr Mitchell, “also report a better inquiry from New Zealand than from any of the other Dominions but personally, 1 believe it will be a great pity if importing is allow’ed to go on too freely in view of the uncertain outlook ahead. Conditions in England have altered a good deal but I think the main differences are accounted for by the war. Most of the big landed estates have been either sub-divided and sold or they are being carried on under great difficulties. Those farmers who purchased the land in these big estates find themselves in a worse position to-day than when they were tenants. In a good many cases the interest on the capital involved together with the rates and other charges exceed the rents they were formerly charged by the proprietors and I think many of those w’ho bought would be glad to revert to the position they were in formerly. THIS SEASON’S PROSPECTS. ,“So far as this season is concerned, I think the position ahead is quite satisfactory for New Zealand, provided a certain amount of caution is exercised. The marked increase in the amount of dairy produce exported from the Dominion has naturally caused a good deal of amazement in England and also a good deal of concern to other producing countries which are beginning to wonder when the limit of New Zealand’s volume of production will be reached. There appears to be an injpression at this end that there is an unlimited demand in England but those in the trade are not quite so sanguine about this. Since 1914 our produc tion of butter has quadrupled itself and such an enormous increase gives cause for serious consideration in regard to the abil ity of Britain to absorb such a continued increase without a break in the price. ADVERTISING POLICY REQUIRED. “One thing that impressed me very strongly during my visit was the almost entire absence of advertising regarding the Dominion. The only advertisements that I noticed were those in regard to our butter and lamb, and very little is being done to advertise New Zealand in a general way. Thisr T think is entirely wrong. On the other hand Australia and Canada lose no opportunities in one way and another of bringing their dominions under the notice of the public and they are doing it in such a way that a person cannot help but be impressed. Thus the absence of advertising in regard to New Zealand gives one the impression that we do not want immigrants and that we have nothing attractive to offer to those people who wish to come here or to those who have money to invest. Thus the wide publicity campaigns conducted by Canada and Australia make the do-nothing policy of New Zealand all the more conspicuous and I think that our Government should at least take some immediate action to remedy the present defects which are at present very evident in the Homeland. A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. “To my way of thinking the loss of the old English families throughout the country is a matter of sincere regret. I was, however, very much impressed with the country in the spring. 1 heard a lot about it but had never realised that it was such a beautiful country. The upper Thames Valley was just a picture and with the roads in such first-class order they made travelling both pleasant and comfortable. The question, however, of keeping the roads in repair is causing the authorities some concern as there is a very large quantity of heavy goods being carried over the roads now-a-days and even with the best of materials the roads do not stand more than four or five weeks without requiring repair. At the present time there are some big schemes afoot for the construction of highways between the various important centres. Ono such highway is to be constructed from Liverpoo least wards to Bolton and the district to the north of Manchester, whilst another project is to construct a road from London to Manchester. These schemes will involve an expenditure running into millions of pounds and the revenue will be derived from rentals on factory sites abutting on to the highway. FARMING METHODS. “I was very much impressed with farming methods in the Lothians, the Border Country, and Murrayshire in Scotland, and in some parts of England. What is considered the main essential by the Scotch fanner ia the necessity for feeding the land, with the result that the crops are magnificient. I was a bit disappointed, however, with the permanent pastures that I saw in the Old Country. There is, however, a great deal of controversy regarding wild white clover and nearly every progressive farmer uses this now and the result is wonderful. Farming on the w’hole, however, just now is not profitable and there is a big outcry to the Government for protection of one sort and another. Nevertheless, I do not think that any protection that they are likely to get will do much good to those persons who are making the most noise. Farm labour conditions are far from satisfactory and the output per man is not big by any means though the labourer' works long hours and gets very little pay. AUSTRALIA’S POTENTIALITIES. “I think Australia is a country of immense possibilities, but her progress is slow because the energies of the people are to a great extent employed in living on each other in the big centres. At the present time she is developing a fruit industry very extensively, but the growers are now up against a very serious problem to find a profitable market for their produce. When one goes to Co vent Garden and sees every conceivable kind of fruit and vegetable from every part of the world, especially from the Mediterranean and other countries which have a similar climate to Australia, but ara much nearer the market, it makes one wonder where the Australian fruitgrowers are going to find a profitable outlet.