CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17223, 14 December 1923, Page 10

CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND.

MR E. H. WYLES INTERVIEWED. An interview regarding the political, economic and social conditions existing in Great Britain was given to-day by Mr E. H. Wyles, president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and manager of W. Strange and Co.. Ltd,.; who has just returned from a six months’ business trip to the Old Country. “ I want to say how pleased I am to be back in Christchurch again.” Mr Wyles said. “I have been looking torward to my return here, as one has only to travel to Europe, or anywhere outside this Dominion, to feel how thankful we ought to be to have such a country as New Zealand to live in. Indeed, you have only to go beyond its shores to appreciate what I say. 1 had not been in England for many years. I found the same old spots, the same magnificent buildings, which brought back memories of the past, but also a London that has a far larger population and a vastly increased traffic than when I knew it last. Then, save for political disturbances, the people of England were pursuing the even tenor of their way. There was a great deal of happiness and wealth in the great city, and there was a great deal of poverty and misery; but London, at that time, reflected the general prosperity of England. Conditions are now altered. The aftermath of the war is still plainly writ in the Old Country, and, although one sees pleasure aiid gaiety, one feels that they are more forced than spontaneous, and amidst many outward signs of prosperity and enjoyment of life you have a feeling of something which depresses, a shadow which falls across the former brightness of life. “ Let me not be misunderstood, for as surely as Great Britain is freed from what might be described as the effects of a very sever© illness and has the determination and grit, still she will in time bring about a recovery. ‘‘People talk about the decadence of the British Empire, and point to what they consider rapid retrogression; but there were many causes for the enormous upheaval of everything, political, economic and social. Great Britain will pull through, and let there be no mistake about it. At the same time, much more headway towards normality and greater prosperity would be more speedily made if the people of Great Britain were not split into so manv contending factions. They must pull together with the instinct of true citizenship in their mind, and the determination to show the world that the British can, and will he true to their principles, and thus prevent other countries from obtaining an advantage in. industry and commerce over the British Empire.” “ I don’t think that the chaotio condition in which Europe is at the present time—instability in trade, a want of confidence, the jealous bickerings which we see taking place between nations which have been allied—can. be more aptly described than the tragedy of Europe. Only 1 the diplomatic circles know what is happening, but few4r still outside it can more than guess what will happen. What the effects of the election just held will be I will not venture to say. “The position on the Continent is of perplexity and of much delicacy. And pronably none of the great nations are free from reproach in contributing actively, or passively, to the impasse that has been caused. What may he the end of this situation I cannot say; but I do say that if the confidence of all nations may be restored and economic conditions made more stable it behoves Great Britain and France, as they fought shoulder to shoulder in war against a common enemy, to stand shoulder to shoulder and show a united front in compelling Germany to abandon her scheming and to make her perform the terms of the Treaty to which she was a party. I feel that if we are to look for peace in the Empire the Entente must be maintained. It is impossible to* keep Germany, with her large population, from trading with Great Britain or any other nation, and in certain circumstances it is advisable that Germany should be allowed to trade. The stability of Empire commerce is not going to attain anything like its former proportion so long as the economic position remains as it is. I must say strongly, however, That the Allies, having won the war, engineered by Germany for the purpose of greed, should not permit her to trade with their countries until they have secured that she has fulfilled her obligations for reparations, and that, she is allowed to trade on only an equal and not an unequal basis of competition. “ The position of agricultural England is a very sad one,” said Mr Wyles. '• Thousands upon thousands of acres which should be in plough have been tui nod down to grass, the consumption lequirements of wheat will be 36.000,000 quarters, but only about 7,000.000 will be grown in Great Britain. If* the plough lands are turned into grass, there will be more unemployment. A large number of labourers will be compelled to compete with the unskilled workers in the towns or live on doles. The cost of living will go up, and Britain will have to take more food from America, so making the dollar dearer and depreciating the pound sterling. This is a matter which demands the most urgent attention of the Government of Britain, for it is a matter which re r ion sly affects the welfare of tho whole country. “I was in England at the time when the Imperial Economic Conference was sitting. It had not concluded its labours when I left I had the privilege of interviews with our Prime Minister, and Mr Massey was full of hope that good and great results would flow from its deliberations. r J he results of the Conference, however, must not be allowed to sleep. They must be kept alive and made active by a permanent committee, represent iti ve of the Empire, charged with the duty of not only carrying out the recommendations of the Cor£ ference, but by conducting economic research and inquiry on matters connected with the trade of the Empire.” Mr Wyles urged a strong defence policy, stating that airship or aeroplanes would never be able to earrv the same volume of goods as ships, and that the ships would have to be protected. Mr Wyles said that he was present at the turning of the first sod of the Pritish Empire Exhibition at Wembley. New Zealand’s credit in England was excellent, he said, and the “ Daily Telegraph ” had made eulogistic 7eference to the Dominion’s prosperity.