AUCKLAND MAYOR’S OBSERVATIONS DURING 7 MONTHS OVERSEAS

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 November 1949, Page 5

AUCKLAND MAYOR’S OBSERVATIONS DURING 7 MONTHS OVERSEAS

WELLINGTON, Yesterday (PA). —The view that Britain’s overall economic position was “very bad,” but I not incapable of solution, was expressed by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, who was a passenger on the Athenic, which arrived from England today. Mr. Allum had encouraging news for Aucklanders—an engineer v. ill arrive from England shortly to investigate the Auckland Harbour bridge project. He made the following observations as the result of a seven months’ tour overseas, embracing Great Britain, France, Switzerland and Sweden: There is too great a disparity in workers’ earnings in Britain. Nationalisation of industry as undertaken in Britain is a “failure.’* The authorities in Britain are “frightened” of the future. The devaluation of sterling “has not gone as far as it will ultimately go.” Parking is an unsolved problem everywhere. Mr. Allum said an engineer from the London office of Sir Ralph Freeman would probably arrive in Auckland shortly to examine the Auckland Harbour bridge project “I think progress has reached that point" ha said. In London Mr. Allum arranged also for the appointment of consulting engineers to examine Auckland's drainage. Mr .Allum said that one of tha most important traffic controls overseas—and one which he said should be introduced into New Zealand—was a law requiring vehicles to make a compulsory- halt before entering a main highway, A pedestrian safeguard used in some parts of England was to erect footpath barriers in such a manner that pedestrians were able to cross a street at only one point. “That's an idea for use here" Mr. Allum commented. Illustrating the truth of the adage about the world being a small place, Mr. Allum mentioned that he had been in difficulties in Stockholm, when a man tapped him on the shoulder and offered to interpret for him. His “rescuer,” who spoke fluent Swedish. introduced himself as “Mr. Johnson, of Dannevirke.”