A GLOOMY PICTURE.

Waipa Post, Volume XX, Issue 1241, 11 May 1922, Page 2

A GLOOMY PICTURE.

“TRADE HAS NEVER BEEN SO BAD.” Writing from London on March 31, Mr Fraser Gange, the well-known English baritone, says: “Trade here has never been so bad, and we are suffering to the extent of about 1,500, 000 unemployed, with no ray of light on the horizon pointing to an’ early betterment of the position, whilst the resit of the public is roughly giving about four months of the year’s work to the State by way of taxation. Very many artists have just scraped through the year, but fortunately we have done very well indeed, and hope, in spite of poor conditions, to do better still next winter. I think, in view of conditions here, New Zealanders can look upon themselves as blessed in the very fullest sense. It is absolutely tragic to see the fine class of men reduced to hawking in the streets matches and such small articles. The great majority of them passed through the war too.” In the course of his letter Mr Gange regrets the postponement of the musical festival in New Zealand, but mentions that several of the choral societies have had to abandon. their iprogrammles* owing to the wretched outlook.