MR J. L. SCOTT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7201, 12 September 1901, Page 1

MR J. L. SCOTT.

AN INTERVIEW IN LONDON. HIS OPINION OF AMERICAN MANTJFACTURES. [From Ova. Coilbespondent.] LONDON, August 2. "My geueral impression of American manufactures is that the-y aore deteriorating in quality; owing to 'tihe manufacturers giv. mg so much oiDtention to the output of quantity and bo cheapness." In view of the continual comparison b-tween English amd Am.eri.oa_. workmanship, especially itt engineering matters, this opinion, of Mr J. L. Scott, of Chriiatchiurch, an expert, after a month's sojourn on the United- States of Amerioa, deserves carefufl; oomsidlaratioai in the colony. \ In chatting over his AaneTican experiences and impression-, Mr Scott was careful to explain that iflhere were notable exceptions, but that the above statement sum-mard-od the general impression that had been left on 'Ms mand. For instance, he said "the eteel framework that they are putting into their buildings is as cheap aa can oe ; tbey are no. building _or centuries as in England." Electric traction amd electric power especially occupied Mr Scott's attention. Ho cajno to 'the conclusion that tho overhead trolley system was the aimiO-b univ-re-al form of electrio traction in America., and that that was the sysfceim for Ohristcburch to «!dopt. At <the same time he eaid' he saw nobbling in America to compare in completeness and finish with <fche oars on the Shepperd's Bush to Kew lines. One of the chief features of the Buffalo Exposition was the simultaneous (switching on of ail the eleotric ligtas all over the buildings amd grounds. Mr Scott had praise for the buildings, but thought ib a. .poor co-lecb-oa of exhibits. He will shortly have a chance of comparing it with the G-Jasgow Exhibition, to which he gaeis in a few days. At .Niagara he inspected! several of the power-houses, and found that the conversion of water power there into electricity was just oa the limas thalfc would have to be adopted in i_h. harnessing of the Waisnakariri. Although the Niagara Falls are 167 fecst in height, he fou_d the fall aotually utilised was a good deal less, and 1 that the proposed fall of 90 feet foi* the 'Qhristohurch scheme would be ample. At Detroit, Mr Scott made a study of Bbov_s, bub in this branch of manufacture, at alt events, came to th© conclusion that in the colony you are as far advanced as tiie Yankees. His experience of America w;is completed by _ lieut wave in New York, which abundautly satisfied him that in tliis respect yellow journalism had a \Vu__:n'gtc_ -tika veracity. One hob day a row of thonmo meters in an optician's shop registered 114-deg in. the shade, and Mr Scott saw dozens oi dead horses. Ab nigiht he was reduced to sleeping in puofis naturalibu;-, ur "even less than that." The trusts and tho strike against the steel combination formed' a general topic of conversation among those cf all classes with whom Mi* Scott cams into contact. The conditions of kbonr he considered very different from those prevailing in England, as neither employers nor men appeared to oa aiiv.id of one another, but either side was quite prepared to fight if it thought ttiere was a pcssiole advantage to be gained. He predicted a great industrial upheaval before very long. Both the working and middle classes were strongly opposed to the wealthy trusts amd

their pnlicv of keeping up the price m Am eric:-, while sacrificing the goods in Kurone. Th* papers a nd the people seemed rather to ?Ymp_t_i3© with the strikers, anil to maintain tha* some part of the tremendous profits should be distributed among the

men. Mr Scott fotind eor.pL&rxble knowledge displayed of New Zealand aiKl_-ier Jab'our laws, and great interest in their working. Mr Carpenter's scries of articles in the Buffalo papers had been widely read. Mr Scott's headquarters ar-- Derby, wnere ho has friends. Tho end of September rs the date fixed for his ccparture.