DOLLARISATION OF LIFE

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1928, Page 9

DOLLARISATION OF LIFE

IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA ORGANISATION OF BUSINESS. STORY OF A NEW ZEALANDER. The "dollarisation of life” was one of the most vivid impressions carried away from America recently by Dr. G. Home, according to his address to New Plymouth Rotarians yesterday. The Westerner come at one in a genial manner, but he was out after the dollars all the same. The New Yorker was more direct and not so popular. Not long after the doctor and his party arrived in Los Angeles one morning they were met by a dignified looking young woman who naked them if they would like to see the city. It woyld not cost anything, she said. “What about lunch?” asked the doctor. On the reply being made that this would be provided free, Dr. Home thought there must be some catch and on further inquiry he was informed that after touring the town ' and the suburbs they would be shown some real estate. “We are only visitors from New Zealand wishing to see the city,” explained Dr. Home. That did not matter, said the American. If they did not wish to buy they would have friends whom they could tell about it. In- the end the New Zealanders agreed to go in the cars provided. As they passed various buildings the drivi. would explain they had cost so many million dollars and covered what had once been base fields. About 1 o’clock the - arrived at a place 25 miles away from the city and had a very fine lunch in a marquee. Then someone announced he would be pleased to see them in the lecture room 1 For about 29 minutes after that a lecturer told them what a fine place it was, after which they were driven to a river plain planted with walnut orchards. They were shown here a plot of land that would be equally useful for a doctor's residence or a shop and that could be bought for 2150 dollars. The doctor having again mentioned that he did not inten to buy, he was driven back to headquarters and told that one of the general managers would like to see him. Third degree methods were used by the manager for a quarter of an hour and the doctor related laughingly yesterday that it took him all his time to resist. ALL VISITORS WAYLAID. When the ordeal was over, Dr. Home expressed the desire to ask the manager a few questions. What did he get out of this business? Seven and a half per cent, commission, was the reply. The doctor thought this w r as fairly good. Eighty people had gone out with the morning’s party and the manager explained that they usually reckoned from Bto 10 per cent would buy. One of the travellers who had been on the Tahiti actually was persuaded, the doctor knew. Five men, each worth so many million dollars, would stand behind the proposition until the whole place was built on, said the manager. This sort of thing, said Dr. Home, was going on all over America and it showed how thoroughly well organised and efficient they were when they were out after dollar?. Every stranger to Los Angeles was waylaid. Interest at 61 per cent, on any money paid was I guaranteed from the time of its deposit, and the property was looked after if the purchaser did not intend to stay in the city. The doctor, however, could not be persuaded and thanked the real estate manager for his extreme self-sacriflee. Another instance of the “dollarisation” instinct in America was encountered by Dr. Home at a railway station in the Rhine country. He had had a cup of coffee at a stall when he saw a group of eight or nine Americans looking at the place hesitatingly. “It is very good coffee,” observed Dr. Home in an endeavour to bring them to a decision. “Say, you speak beautiful English,” said one of ,the ladies in the party. “Where did you learn it?” “I learnt it in New Zealand,” replied the doctor. “Say, that’s interesting!”. exclaimed the lady. “How long have you been there ?” “About 57 years,” she was informed. “And how long in Germany ?” "About a quarter of an hour,” replied the doctor. The American had thought the doctor was running the coffee stall and advocating its merits. She could not understand his disinterested motive in making his first remark.