RECOVERY IN U.S.A.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1935, Page 6

RECOVERY IN U.S.A.

ELTHAM MAN’S IMPRESSIONS. WHY VOICES OF HIGHER PITCH. “We thought we were hit with the depression, but we don’t know what a slump is in New Zealand,” said Mr. A. M. Collier, a member of the staff of the Egmont Box Co. Ltd., who has been visiting America at the invitation of a tractor company to gain experience in the working of caterpillar tractors in logging operations. “The unemployed were so numerous in America that one could not walk along the streets without being asked by several hungry men for money for a meal.

“America is starting to get back on its feet again, thanks largely to the C.C.C. This stands for Civilian Construction Corps and somewhat resembles the New Zealand Public Works Department. It has been undertaking all manner of public improvements, building new dams, making roads, cutting out scrub and draining swamps, and it has employed many thousands of men formerly idle as the result of stagnant industry. “The Americans are very interested in New Zealand and Australia, but they do not know much about these countries. Only about three in 100 have much knowledge of our country. At Chicago I was asked how long I had been in America. I replied I had been in the country two months, and my questioner said in an astonished manner ‘You have picked up the language well.’

“I had an unenviable experience in one of the large cities. The day’s takings were being removed from a large business house by armed escort and one of the members poked his revolver into my stomach to keep me back. All traffic along the footpath was held up while the money was transported across into waiting vehicles. “There are some pretty quick things done in America, but one of the quickest, I thought, was in connection with the Louis-Baer said Mr. Collier. “I was watching the results being shown in a theatre, and as soon as the fight was finished we started to go out. It took about three minutes to empty the theatre and about two more minutes to walk down town. Five minutes after the fight finished we were buying newspapers on the streets with the result of the fight. I have one in my bag. “In another case there was a big fire at Chicago. Twenty-five minutes after the outbreak there were papers on the streets with an account of the fire.

“The noise of New York is deafening. But the New Yorkers are used to it and where the stranger is unable to hear they can understand quite well. Their voices are pitched higher so as to get above the noise, and one soon gets into the habit.”