Second Edition A FINE TOUR IN AMERICA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 84, 4 December 1912, Page 6

Second Edition A FINE TOUR IN AMERICA.

IMPRESSIONS AND EXPERI-

ENCES..

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

DELEGATES

At the conclusion of the business at the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce ou Monday night, Mr L. Bassett gave some of his impressions as a. delegate to the International Congress of Chambers of Commerce.

Mr L. Bassett said the remarkable feature of the tour was the great attention and kindness which was bestowed upon the delegation by the Americans. They acre provided with everything free.

This great tour of American industries was not only for the idea of seeing the great industries but to bring the visitors into touch with the business men in America, with their ideas and equipment. Personally he hao come back with a greater industrial vision and an altered opinion of the American people. The greatest asset America has is her business men. They are keen to - a degree arid with.’a single purpose and object. That is what is needed in New Zealand. Travelling through America as they had done, one would conic back marvelling that their progress, considering the great industrial difficulty they have to surmount, for only one in every seven is an American.

Another great point was the great civic pride of the Americans. Every city was the outstanding city in thcestimation of that city’s inhabitants. Education is another great point in America." The industrial schools train the apprentice and turn him out ready to take his place in the ranks of the fully-pi'jiid workmen. Another thing, the Americans have grasped the idea of specialisation. Another thing that struck tin speaker was the fine physique; of the Americans. In this he thought they were superior to the United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand.

TSI3 Tour. At Boston the delegation were provided with - magnificently-equipped trains, containing restaurants, palace cars, libraries, sleepers, and observation cars. There were mounted police to see that no accidents occurred, and the personal safety of the dele-, gatvion was watched over by a body oi private detectives. Thus they pro ceeded to Worcester, a town containing about 161f,000 people. Here they met with a great reception. Motor cars were provided, visits were paid to the large industries and Schools of Industry, where apprentices were fully equipped for the battle of life. After a big banquet the delegation visited Buffalo.

At Buffalo, a town of 450,000 people, they received another great reception. Here, in one of the large motor factories, the delegation were entertained by the company with one of the finest midday dinners of the tour. Niagara was the next place visited, TcAMTheffeßffe/ saw hotv 'cheaply electrical power can bo generated. Niagara Falls the speaker characterised as a sight of a life-time. Detroit is another great industrial centre, and here the delegates received another enthusiastic reception. Here they visited the great Ford motor works, where they are turning out one car in every two minutes. This great company is making extensive enlargements, and next year intend to turn out one car per minute.

Chicago is another great civic centre and has a population of two and a half millions. Chicago has more sky-scrapers than New York/ but they, are not so high. They were taken through the immense, in all 42 miles. In America each city has immense parks. There are tens of thousands of acres. They are provided by the cities, and are free .for games. They give In return the fine physique of the Americans. At Chicago the delegates visited the great meat works, employing in all 25,000 men. At Chicago they wore entertained at two great banquets, and were also entertained at the Country Club, a feature of all American towns.

Cincinnati and Dayton wore nextvisited in order. Here again they received a great reception, and visited tire most important industries. Dayton was a city that none of the Wanganui delegates would forgot. When they arrived at the town they found that the day had been declared a public holiday, and thousands of people wore on the streets. They were mot by bands playing national airs, and escorted through streets lined with school children, and received the most enthusiastic reception of the tour. A visit was paid to the factory of the National Cash. Register. This huge factory covers 37 acres and employs 3700 hands. When the delegation arrived there they were met by two bands, and all the hands were lining the windows of the main entrance. At this factory the hands are more than well cared for. Luxurious lavatories are provided, and notices arc placed .stating that the employees may hath twice a week in their employers’ time and as many times as they like in their own. Rest rooms are provided where employees may retire if not feeling well and receive nursing attendance. There is a resident doctor, and all intending employees must pass a medical examination before they can join. Connected with this factory are the boys’ gardens containing 30 acres of ground. This area is divided into plots, and boys are given an opportunity of taking one up. Prizes are given for various competitions, A lecture ball is also provided by this company, where- the doctor lectures sometimes, and at other times lectures touching their work arc given. Pittsburg is a grimy city of half a million people. Here they visited the Carnegie steel works, where there i?

at present a big strike. Washington, the next place visited, is a quiet city, with no industries. Here they received a great Government reception. The buildings of Washington are magnificent. The Congress Library, White House, and Washington’s tomb were visited and a wreath was placed on Hie tomb by the delegation. At Philadelphia the delegates visited the great Town Hall and Womenocre’s great store, supposed to be the largest in the world. Here they were given a dinner. A visit was paid to the great Baldwin locomotive works.

New York was reitlly a show visit. While ■ there motor car tours, banquets, and theatres were the order of the'day, and an opportunity was afforded them to come into contact with the great men of industry. In conclusion, the speaker said the tour had been a great eye-opener to him, and he felt it was bis duty to put before the public the information he had obtained,’ although that would take a little time to do. We have yet to learn a great deal from the progressive, keen, and alert Americans’.

The president (Mr McFarlanc) hoped that they would soon again hear Mr Bassett speak on Ids tour. He desire's! it placed upon the minute book the Chainber’s gratitude to Mr Bassett for having agreed to act'as one of the Chamber’s delegates at the Boston Congress.—Herald.