IS IT CHEAPEST TO TRAVEL?

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1929, Page 16

IS IT CHEAPEST TO TRAVEL?

JUDGE DOUBTS DOCTRINE. (By Wire —Special to News.) Auckland, Oct. 1. A suggestion that it is cheaper for New Zealanders with means to go abroad and travel ’an it is for them to stay at home did not commend itself to Mr. Justice Smith in the Supreme Court, but it led to an interesting discuseion. Mr. Johnstone, who was appearing in a will case, said experience had established that it was cheaper to cease expenses at home and make a trip abroad. In this case plaintiff had no family ties to keep her at home. “Is it not an odd doctrine that trips abroad are less expensive than staying in New Zealand?” asked Mr. Justice Smith. Mr. Johnstone said he’ knew of instances in which it had been cheaper to go abroad. “New Zealanders are great travellers,’ remarked His Honour. Mr. Richmond: “We are known as the greatest travellers in the world.” Mr. Johnstone said he had known of definite cases of people who had gone to England for a year and let their houses and had actually found it cheaper in the end; they had spent less money. “Where do these fortunate voyagers live when they go abroad?” His Honour asked. Mr. Johnstone said they would stay at places at least as comfortable as the great West End hotels. When summing up later His Honour said it had been argued that it cost less to take a trip abroad than to remain at home in New Zealand. If that were so it would shortly be that most New Zealanders who had private incomes would be li-ing abroad. He was not prepared to accept that argument. “I must adopt my own view of the cost of travelling,” he said. “In my view it costs more to go abroad and enjoy- yourself than it does to live quietly in New Zealand.”